Of all the Democratic primaries kicking into high gear this month, the battle for the Cook County Board presidency is perhaps the most active at the moment. Here's the latest news:

Hot off the presses, theTribune has formally endorsed Toni Preckwinkle in the Democratic primary. From the editorial:

Toni Preckwinkle, a University of Chicago-educated history teacher turned South Side politico, isn't a household name in much of Cook County. But she has built an impressive city-suburban alliance of African-American, Latino and white supporters. And on the signature issue in this campaign for many voters, yes, she says she would retire the second half of the 2008 sales tax increase that Stroger engineered.

We think Preckwinkle has the best potential of the three Democrats challenging Stroger to deliver on his badly broken promises for a streamlined and modernized County Building. Appearing before our editorial board, she was the only one of the four to say she would fully protect the independence of the panel that now runs the county's health care system. That's crucial: Keeping that system out of the mitts of County Board members, the board president and other bosses is the only hope that patients and taxpayers have for good health services delivered economically. [...]

At times Preckwinkle has bucked Mayor Richard Daley on budget and other high-profile votes. She has worked hard to expand affordable housing for the people of her lakefront ward without being a tool of developers -- another distinction that not every alderman can claim.

The Trib also have nice things to say about Terrence O'Brien, but noted that he was "much less convincing than Preckwinkle when the two talk about draining the sodden swamp that is county government." Dorothy Brown, the paper writes, is "an unsuitable option." And you all know what they think of incumbent Todd Stroger.

At a noon debate hosted by the City Club of Chicago yesterday, the four candidates vying for the county's top position were given a unique opportunity to ask questions of their counterparts. Not surprisingly, some sparks flew. The Tribune, Sun-Times, and Daily Herald all have thorough rundowns today, so be sure to click through and read their takes. Here are a few highlights from the Herald's recap:

Citing herself as the lone progressive reformer, Chicago Hyde Park Alderman Toni Preckwinkle asked Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown how she could call herself a reformer after admitting her campaign had used state workers to collect campaign signatures and that she had accepted gifts and donations from employees.

"They all relate to other individuals besides myself," Brown replied, adding, "We're like a family. We give each other gifts during the holiday season."

Brown asked Metropolitan Water Reclamation District President Terrence O'Brien how he got to be a millionaire on his $80,000 government salary, suggesting it was in doing consultant work for polluters. "I do not apologize for being a successful businessman," O'Brien said, adding, "Terry O'Brien does not protect polluters." He called those charges, previously leveled by Preckwinkle as well, "defamatory."

O'Brien, in turn, asked incumbent President Todd Stroger about a Better Government Association report last summer that found only three of 11 contracts had been awarded to the low bid. Stroger was unapologetic, saying, "To be responsible, you don't just take the lowest price."

Stroger asked a lengthy question of Preckwinkle that concluded, "The county is in perfect shape after my three years of service." Preckwinkle replied that she'd heard otherwise.

O'Brien, who caught flack over the weekend for the accuracy of his first campaign video, met with the Crain's editorial board today to discuss county finances. According to Greg Hinz, who sat in on the meeting, some of O'Brien's consolidation proposals could be considered controversial:

Mr. O'Brien said he'd also talk to the Chicago Board of Elections about merging with the county's elections unit -- "Why should they be separate?" -- and would push the County Board to merge itself with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which technically is a separate unit of government, even though its board has the same members as the County Board. [...]

Probably most controversial, Mr. O'Brien said separate county property taxing functions -- now handled separately by the assessor, treasurer, clerk, recorder and others -- likely should be merged. "I believe in making government smaller," he said.

Mr. O'Brien admitted that such an action would set off turf wars, and would have to be approved by the Illinois House, where speaker Mike Madigan has lots of patronage jobs scattered throughout county government.

Stroger received a boost today when Rep. Bobby Rush announced he would endorse the current president. From a press release:

“I am extremely grateful to have the support of Congressman Rush,” stated President Stroger, “He has a powerful voice in the community.  I know with his help we can win this election and keep Cook County Government moving in the right direction.”

For those interested in the county's public health services, the Emergency Network to Save Cook County Health Services is hosting a candidates forum on the County Health System tonight. Stroger, Preckwinkle, and Brown will join GOP candidate John Garrido and Green Party candidate Tom Tresser in the debate, which will be moderated by SouthtownStar columnist Phil Kadner. It begins at 6pm at Chicago's First United Methodist Church (77 W. Washington St.).