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Peraica Goes No-Confidence Against Stroger

Officials Say Move is More Grandstanding and Sour Grapes on Peraica's Part

CHICAGO (CBS) ― An unusual no-confidence vote is in the offing against Todd Stroger at the Cook County Board.

As CBS 2's Derrick Blakley explains, it's a new political campaign being waged by Stroger's sour-grapes enemy, Tony Peraica.

Six months after he was sworn in as County Board President, Todd Stroger is facing another attempt by the man he defeated to embarrass him.

"He's done a terrible job and he needs to do better," said Peraica.

Tuesday, Tony Peraica will ask the County Board for a vote of no-confidence in Stroger. He said it's his way of expressing his frustration and displeasure. And to build support on the board, Peraica turned to a tactic usually reserved for political campaigns -- automated phone calls to voters. The "robo-calls" went out to voters represented by Democrats Mike Quigley, Forest Claypool and Larry Sufferdin. But none plan to support Peraica.

It might make the public feel good, but it really won't have any force of law," said Quigley Cook County Commissioner

"This makes no sense to me; it's grandstanding," said Sufferdin.

Peraica also produced a YouTube video, blasting Stroger for hiring friends and family on the county payroll. Critics contend the campaign-like tactics make Peraica look like a sore loser. Peraica makes no apologies.

"I don't think we were elected to be part of the furniture and potted plants here on the county board," said Peraica.

And a Stroger spokesperson dismissed the no-confidence vote as a sideshow.

"It's a stunt designed to advance that particular political concern and again, we want to rise above that," said Stroger spokesperson Ibis Antongiorgi.

Not even Peraica believes the no-confidence vote has a chance of passage, but some Democrats share his frustration. One told CBS 2, he's never seen public confidence in the board, and its leader, so low.

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