Politics

  We asked what you think about giving Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's cousin and the county CFO, Donna Dunnings, a 12 percent raise. Here are some of your responses:

It seems to me that she's earning almost as much as the president of the United States and I'm sure that while she's compitent at her job, she's not worth that much. I consider myself part of the working poor, and while I do earn what is considered to be a decent salary, I still can't make ends meet,and now to top it we will have to pay a 10.25% tax increase? I think NOT! Now to find a way to fight it without a revolution!
--Jocelyn

The citizens of Cook County need to know what the steps are to remove Stroger from office. Many are upset by the latest news, it is obvious where funds from the latest tax increase are going. What are the pros and cons of how county government is currently run? Donna Dunnings has not learned anything in her 20 years of experience. If the CFO is responsible for the budget, it should be apparent there is not any money available for a 12% increase. Many hard working citizens will be lucky if they see a 2% raise. Does Dunnings actually fulfill her required duties? This may sound cold hearted, high paid government employees need to be retired. It would be more economical to hire hard working graduates who need the employment opportunities, at a more reasonable rate of compensation.
--Chris, South Side

As a Masters degree educated person, I find it appauling that as news reporters, you have not reported the fact that Ms. Dunning has a MBA from Northwestern University. Given this and her work ethic as noted by Quigley, this is not even market salary for her background. CBS 2 Chicago has an obligation to do better reporting instead of unfairly castigating this well-educated and obviously talented African American woman.
--Anonymous

"Did I Do That" Yes Steve Erkel you did. You screwed the taxpayers of Cook County! Dunnings states she has a master from Northwestern University and she thinks Mr. Glazer went to the University of Illinois at Chicago? What does this mean? University Illinois is a school for morons? That phrase "I Think" is back to haunt us. All during Todd Strogers campaign I hear him saying "I Think I Can". He sounds like Thomas the Train. I think I can I think I can. I think not! Nixon was impeached so should you and your family and friends and all the cowards that voted the tax increase as well. There are no leaders just a bunch of sheep that follow. Give the raises to the middle class people that work for the county and not related. The Mayor of Chicago put a freeze on raises as well as hiring because we are in a recession. I least can go to bed every night knowing that I did not vote for you! You are the biggest joke around the United States. Other surrounding counties are putting signs up Shop Here You Are Not In Cook County! I hope if you run for reelection no one comes to my house and ask to put a Todd Stroger sign on my lawn! Thank God he did not tax the freedom of speech!
--Tax Payer and Registered Voter.

How much more is Todd Stroger going to get away with? Dragging the budget process out until the last second because he just had to have all that extra money available, and for what? To give it out in the form of a pay raise to his cousin? Is her performance that impressive? More so than any other employee? I highly doubt it. So if I was a Cook County employee - I'd be organizing a walk-out, until all employees are rewarded equally for their work, none of them should show up. Let Todd and his cousin run the entire county all on their own. He's a disgrace.
--Anonymous

Politics as usual. What a pathetic so called leader this clown is.
--Dennis Tovar

Thank you CBS for asking my opinion. And an opinion I do have. He threatens to shut down hospitals, firing sheriff's police, and letting go of other important personnel. Then he has the gall to give his cousin a 12% raise. That's good, that's fine, his cousin needs the raise. I think Stroger needs a 12% pay cut. That should work. My opinion, he needs to resign. In fact he, Daley, and Blagojevich need to step down.
--Anonymous Cook County Resident

No way. She thinks she is so special, because she is a relative. She is no better than the poor souls making minimum wage.
--Anonymous

In light of the current fiscal woes of Cook County, how can Todd, Jr justify giving his cousin any raise?!
Workers at Stroger Hospital were at risk of losing their jobs, local clinics were almost shut down in areas where people cannot afford to lose what little healthcare they have, and he gives her a raise.
Ok, it brings her up to what was to have been her actual pay rate, but I am sure she wasn't hurting for anything. So why should the voting populous suffer?
I knew it was a mistake putting "baby" Stroger in his daddy's place - that's why for the first and hopefully only time in my life I voted Republican.
Get rid of Strogerism in Cook County government before he kills Cook County altogether.
--L Williams, Matteson, IL

Of course this is wrong especially after just socking the people of Cook County with a massive tax increase. And why a 12% raise when inflation is only 3-4%? Just another in the line of Stroger's stellar appointments, joining his school friend making a six figure salary as head of his public relations without any experience. But why should we be surprised? It is "government as usual" by Stroger and the Daley's in Chicago and Cook County. Would Daley have ever been elected mayor if his name was Richard Smith? Or Lisa Madigan the Attorney General if her name was Lisa Simpson? Or Dan Hynes State Comptroller if his name was Dan Jones? Forest Claypool is right...this is the height of arrogance.
But guess who is ultimately to blame? The voters of Cook County for electing Stroger to this post. Democracy in action.
--David Gallagher Oak Lawn, IL

I AM SO GLAD TODD STROGER HAS ALL THE MONEY THAT HE CAN GIVE A 12% RAISE TO HIS COUSIN. DIDN'T HE SAY HE NEEDED TO RAISE TAXES AND CUT JOBS / SERVICES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. IT MUST BE NICE TO HAVE A MONEY TREE IN THE YARD (OOPS IT'S NOT A MONEY TREE, IT IS JUST THE HOMEOWNERS BEING SCREWED.)
INSTEAD OF WAITING THE HIS TERM IN OFFICE TO END, LET'S IMPEACH HIM. THERE SHOULD BE A LAW AGAINST PEOPLE LIKE STROGER WHO SAYS THE COUNTY NEEDS THE MONEY, BUT SO DOES HIS FAMILY.
--BRIDGET, BURBANK, IL

Absolutely ridiculous to give out any pay raises, especially this one, considering the County Board was "broke" just a few weeks ago. Now their going to give pay raises to 23,000 of their employees too !!! This state and country needs to experience a "serious tax revolt by the working public." We cannot keep absorbing these outrageous tax increases. The County Board made no effort at all to even try to cut expenditures before the sales tax increase was put into effect, but yet the taxpapers are expected to keep tighting their belts to pay for it all. Enough is Enough already !!!!!!!!!
--Anonymous

I find it amazing that someone that would use his very ill father's name to actually get in office (how pathetic is that!) would actually have the nerve to keep cushioning his family. There are other people in the Chicago/Chicagoland area. Todd should just STOP!!!! He is not worthy of that office - never has been and never will be!
--Diana C

I MUST respond to Julia's and Rudy B.'s posting directly regarding Todd Stroger's Cousin's Raise.
Talk about racism to the 100th degree!!!
How on Gods Green Earth are you, Julia and Rudy B., going to even mention Obama's name regarding the Stroger controversy? Oh...because Obama's black and Stroger's black that means they are one of the same...is that your racist reasoning. I'm sorry but it's people like you that divide this country. If we were to follow Julia's and Rudy B's reasoning then we would say that Clinton will lead this country into another war and recession just like Bush has, which is also ridiculous to say.
Obviously, Julia and Rudy B, you two vote based on race and not issues, it's people like you that the Right to Vote should not apply???
--Cathy H.

I think its absolutely stupid, he's raising taxes on everything else, but he's going to give his cousin a 12% raise, (what about all the other relatives that work for him, will they be getting raises also)?
--Anonymous

If Todd Stroger wants his cousin to have a 12% raise it should come directly out of his own salary. Let him experience what the rest of us already do; less money in our pockets because of Stroger patronage.
--James

I think it is a joke. We are working so we can survive everyday and to count our blessings, and people walk in off the street, families, of Mr. Stroger, and start making big bucks. We have to be at a company for a long time before we come close to making enough money to supports ourselves.. No I don't think it is fair, and they raise the taxes, to give her the raise.
SO UNFAIR. SORRY BUT IT IS.
--Anonymous

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