Incumbent Todd Stroger was treated like a pinata at a Cook County board president debate in Palatine last night. Democratic, Republican, and Green Party challengers all castigated the Chicago Democrat for his leadership skills and his unpopular sales tax hike. "We need to stop taxing our way out of our problems, bottom line," said Terrence O'Brien, who has vowed to repeal immediately the remaining half-cent sales tax hike if elected. Toni Preckwinkle, who will gradually lower the tax, called it "bad for working families and bad for business." Stroger defended his record (to audible groans from the audience), calling his administration "very fiscally responsible." Sun-Times county reporter Lisa Donovan, who attended, has more in her article.

Also, in an unforced error, Stroger invited a group of African-American journalists who work for black-owned publications to his campaign headquarters for a sit-down last week. One small problem, though: He forgot to show up:

Some members of the group, described as numbering seven or eight, waited at Stroger's South Side campaign headquarters for more than an hour after the 1 p.m. appointment before they were told he couldn't make it because of another appointment. But one of the veteran journalists in attendance said they listened as campaigners talked about how the mainstream media hadn't given Stroger a fair shake.

While Stroger picks up more bad headlines, some of his rivals are picking up endorsements. The Illinois Sierra Club will announce their support for Preckwinkle today. The Hyde Park alderman has also purchased $425,000 of air time for a television ad she shot this week.

Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago's union for police officers, endorsed O'Brien. The Chicago Current has a statement:

“We believe there is no other candidate in this race who has the track record of fiscal accountability of Terry O'Brien. We trust that he will protect the taxpayers, but that he will not sacrifice their safety,” said FOP President Mark Donahue, in a statement.

Lastly, the Democratic nominees will participate in a 30-minute debate this evening hosted by ABC 7 and the Better Government Association. The proceedings begin at 7 p.m. and will stream live online. Gapers Block has the details.

UPDATE (3:05 p.m.): Here's an excerpt from a Sierra Club press release put out this afternoon announcing their endorsement of Preckwinkle:

“Toni Preckwinkle knows that our Cook County Forest Preserves are a precious resource for future generations, and she won’t play politics with our preserves,” said Barbara Hill, Political Chair of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.   "We are very fortunate that leaders from previous generations set aside our beautiful forest preserves, and Toni Preckwinkle is just such a visionary leader for the 21st century.”

“Toni Preckwinkle knows we can create good jobs for those who need them most by focusing on smart energy policies and cleaning up pollution,” said Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter.  “After years of patronage and neglect in county government, we need an independent leader like Toni Preckwinkle who will work for a cleaner, greener Cook County.”