Olympics haters rejoice, one is running for office

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Tom Tresser, advocated loudly against the 2016 summer Olympics in Chicago as the lead organizer of No Games Chicago. He may have put himself out of a job there, but now he’s running for something more high profile: Cook County Board president.

For a self-proclaimed reformer, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.

“After almost 30 years of active civic life in this great city, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m tired of chasing bad policy and trying to stop projects that rip up parks, loot our treasury and reward the connected few,” Tresser said. “I would like to help make good policy and be part of a small and honest government – rather than rail against wrongheaded policy and the litany of public corruption that has become Chicago’s and Cook County’s unofficial theme song.”

Tresser is challenging current Board president Todd Stroger, son of the previous Board president John Stroger. John Stroger held the position for 12 years and handily won the democratic nomination for his third term while hospitalized after a stroke.

For anyone unfamiliar with Cook County politics, I’ll repeat that. John Stroger suffered  a stroke and managed to win the democratic nomination for Cook County Board president without ever leaving his hospital room or speaking publicly to even prove he was conscious. Once nominated, his name stayed on the ballot until it was too late for independent candidates to file the paperwork necessary to run. Todd was then chosen to replace his father as the candidate by County Democratic Committee leaders. He won the general election, took his father’s place and presided over the Cook County Board.

No need to go too deep into the list of Stroger’s decisions, but the double digit sales tax and refusal to reverse it is certainly a highlight. Tresser has long battled the powers that be to keep politicians away from public property like the parks.

“We need to put a freeze on any program that transfers money or property from the public to the private entity,” Tresser said.

He also promised more accountability and transparency in county government and an end to “political stagnation.”

“Call it the Machine,” he said. “Call it the Combine. Call them the Regulars.”

Candidates are lining up to challenge Stroger in the February primary, and Tresser is angling to be the Green Party candidate. Now if only the Green Party had a chance at the Board presidency, but that’s another blog post for another time.

Daily Herald | No Games Chicago leader to run for Cook County president.