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  We asked you how you think Todd Stroger is performing as president of the Cook County Board. Here is what you had to say.


Todd Stroger is not in touch with the community he serves. People are losing their jobs, so he should raise taxes????? and pay family and friends more. Plus NEW OFFICE, HOW MUCH IS THAT????? WHO WORKS UP THERE???? HOW MANY CARS and DRIVERS ARE WE PAYING FOR ???? AND HOW ABOUT ALL THE GAS WE ARE PAYING FOR????? And last, but not least, HOW MANY SPOKESPERSONS DOES HE NEED? IF HE CAN'T SPEAK MAYBE HE SHOULD QUIT!!!! --CLBendell

I think that Todd is doing a terrible job! He doesn't seem to care about the people of Cook County-only the extra $$ that he can grab out of everyones pocket! I've started making any purchases that I are over $10 - like groceries, gas, major store purchases OUTSIDE of Cook County. I didn't vote for him on the last election, and certainly hope that when his term (our 'sentence') is up - he'll be OUT! I wonder if the person in charge of Cook County was white, and hired family and friends like Todd has done-- what kind of marches, protests, etc. would be going on. Reverse racism anyone??? And I can't STAND that smugness he has about himself. --Lynn

I hope someone finds a way to arrest this crook. The sooner the better. This goes for all his fellow crooks too, investigate them all. --John T.

Tiny Tot get on your big wheel and ride into the sunset you have got to be the worst yet keep it up they got a cell with your name on it too who knows maybe you and Gov. Ryan can be cell mates. --D. Cole

I do not live just over the border in Indiana and now with the way the taxes have gone up, it would be better to take my children on a long vacation somewhere else than to take them up to the city. Chicago will be the next Detroit. Run down without anyone spending money there. --Thomas Niksich

I think Todd Stroger is a jerk and should somehow be kicked out of office. My husband and I will make a real effort, after the new tax becomes effective, to shop for big ticket items OUTSIDE Cook County. A movement to replace Stroger should be started NOW !!! --Judie McVeigh

I feel that Todd is performing poorly and, in effect, without regard for the citizens who, for some reason, elected him. Todd has hired cronies to provide a base of support for his tenure rather than for their expertise in serving the public; he has inflated the salaries of many while simultaneously raising taxes, an insult and financial injury to Cook County citizens; he has endangered the health of many by slashing and/or manipulating the staff at Stroger Hospital to accommodate his budget. His only "qualification" for office seems to be his late father, yet another politician of questionable character. So what can average citizens do about it other than air their opinions and, of course, vote him out of office? Well, judging by who too often get elected to critical local and national offices, we can't rely on the average voter to take the time to keep up with the issues and vote accordingly. I suspect that this is a lesson he learned from his father. And a good lesson it was. But it begs yet another question: Is Todd any worse than many other local and national politicians? --Harvey Chaplik

Worst among the worst. That must be nice to be a friend, relative or cohort of Stroger!! I don't have to exert much effort to get a pay raise compared to a regular/civilian person; i just have to be a Stroger fanatics.Does he have a conscience that due to his patronage,a great deal of Cook county residents suffer while a handful/numerous allies of his enjoy a bountiful blessings from him(Stroger) on taxpayers' account. What a shame!!! --Menchu

I think that the young man is doing a fine job. If he was white y'all would be calling him a hero. He dresses well too, much like me. --"Boss Hogg"

He has raised taxes, brought in his relatives, fired workers from a already troubled hospital, and he thinks we're going to re-elect him!!! I say we dump him, Beavers, and all the rest of those guys who support him. We need a change! --Nigel

This guy is the worst politician this state has ever had! He has stuck it to us so many times that I'm really surprised that anyone would support him anymore. We Cook County residents should also take notice of the other politicians who support him, folks like Toni Preckwinkle and others. Lets not forget them folks! --Paul

As a retail business owner in River North for 22 years I've never been more frustrated. Between the 10.25% sales tax and Daley's massive tax increase this past fall I'm trying to figure out my exit strategy. The blatant corruption and abuse of the taxpayer is without precedent. And that is saying something in Chicago. Todd Stoger is the poster boy of abusive government and I can only hope that voters reject him and his fellow thieves. But by 2010 it will be too late, the damage will have been done. Stroger, Daley, Jones, Beavers, Blago...Illinois government at all levels is a national embarrassment. --Richard Gorman

i cant wait untill he gets out i will not vote, i know matter of fact alot of people will not vote for him. --Pam

I believe he quite refreshing and doing a tremendous job considering the haters trying to make him out to be some sort of bandit He is very intelligent and I cant wait to vote for him again. --Mrs. Williams

You show the problems at Stroger Hospital. Take a look at Provident Hospital, another Cook County Facility. They are so far behind in payment of their Service contracts that vendors have cut off service to them, resulting in equipment that is inoperative. This puts the patients at risk, because diagnostic test can not be done. Women having routine Mammograms done, will not have them read for months. If a cancer is detected they would be dead before a follow-up exam were done. --Michael Esposito

I just watched your report on Todd Stroger. I already knew everything you reported. I am completely disgusted with the government in Illinois. In my opinion they are all corrupt. They don't care one bit about the people. They are only interested in lining their pockets. I believe that what goes around comes around. It is my hope that they will all be voted out of office. If I had my way they would all be out tomorrow. This Stroger guy is not only corrupt he is stupid. He is the president of the Cook County board and he can't even read. Anyone who votes for him must be as stupid as he is. He is a very bad man and he must be defeated. I pray he will be replaced by someone who is fair, honest and intelligent. --Karen Ellis

President Stroger is doing the best he can do with what he has. Every elected offical has appointed their own people to work. Commissioner Peraica has his Son working for Cook County...How did he get that job??? --Cindy

I'd have to say he leaves a lot of room for improvement, to say the least. I don't think he's doing well. I'd like to get rid of the hiring of friends and family and keeping on the pay roll of friends and family. I'm still trying to understand how this is able to continue. --Paul

I think he is doing a terrible job of hiring and increasing salaries to his relatives and friends. Reduction in work force to pay the bills is only now to be increasing the staff to make Cook County work. He has no ability to run Cook County. Threats to increase RE taxes to aid this delema he has created rub me the wrong way. No accountability where the money is being spent. No accountability as to how much is collected and where it is spent. --Heidi DeBat

It's a disaster! I never wanted him to take office in the first place and my worst suspicions have been confirmed. He should not be in that position and he is abusing his power. --Patricia Lenius

He is a disgrace to the Human race. It's all about money...And what uncapable family/friends he need's to put on payroll. He really needs to do us all a favor...Please just resign. --Carmen

I think he's a less than honest politician who wants to fill the county board positions with friends and relatives. --Linda Uriaus

His performance is terrible. Jesse White does not allow hiring of family members so stroger should do the same. Don't look at what your father did; you are not a little child. The county has different expenses and times are tough. The main focus should be on the people who carry more then one pension. The county should use those people as part time help that would save millions to tax payers. The Sheriff's Dept. is the worst run like County Board; all its brass are retired CPDd that are making more than they made at there city jobs. The county has a bunch of idiots running it and it will go bankrupt. All these politicians dart and stroger think if obama wins they are going to Washington and you can take that to the bank. All of the people who work on Cook County campaigns they are with Obama now. You need to hire people that are younger to save money and not give out a second or third pension out to there friends. The Sherif'fs Dept. is a big part of the budget. hiring within the Sheriff would save paying out second pensions. The whole county needs to be looked at. But the Sheriff is the second biggest problem that the county does the budget for. --John Michaels

I live in Montgomery Illinois and just cant feel sorry for the people of Cook county. THEY NEW WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR!!! and deserve what there are getting now.I could not believe they voted him in. --Gary Riess

Let's just say he will NOT be getting my vote this time around come re-election time, so he should start looking to family members to find him a job, which will probably be easy as they all pretty much owe him a favor. WHAT WAS HE THINKING?!! That I know of, not even his honor has gone that far as to giving so many family members a job. sincerely disappointed. --Antonio Cruz

I think he is doing a terible job. He has turned his office into the family corner store. What should happen is that we should find out what is the normal salary for his family and friends jobs, and insist ( as the people of this city ) that they take a pay cut. I thought the idea was to better the lives of the people in this city, and not fatten yours or your family and friends pockets. --Charles Gutter

I think Todd Stroger is simply RIDICULOUS!! Those that work for him are already well compensated and to give any of them a pay raise is so unfair. He's a crook that cares nothing about the taxpayers of cook county.I have yet to hear him say anything with substance and he will definitely not get my vote in 2011. Please continue to keep your viewers informed. He really makes me sick! --Debra Samuels

As Chicago companies are offshoring jobs and downsizing their workforce it is a slap in the face to the residents of Cook county that Stroger is raising taxes and increasing the wages of his patronage friends while we struggle to make ends meet. He should be voted out of office. --Al Porteus

His performance is excellent. He managed to get us all to pay the highest tax in the country. He should have ran the hospital more efficiently and billed insurance companies, and cut some of those inflated salaries instead of raising taxes so much. --Joanne Przybylowski

Todd Stroger is doing a terrible job as Cook County Board President. He has laid off 1,000s of people throughout the Bureau of Health and given 6 figure jobs to his family and friends. He has cut the budget instead of billing and collecting from patients who are able to pay. He doesn't seem to care about the health care of the people in cook county. He has a lot of nerve thinking he will get re-elected. Many of the peoople who voted for him before have been laid off. I doubt if any of the people will vote for him including the tax payers of cook county. Maybe we can all secede from cook county! --Jan

I think Todd Stroger, Jr. is making all that much difficult to live day to day. I am unable to save for retirement to save my house. Paying the highest taxes in the nation is not making our county hospital any more effecient and not providing any of its uninsured residents with quality medical care. Maybe his first cousin can go to school and get her RN degree to replace some of those displaced nurses, and use some of those "long hours" tending to patients. I have to work long hours but my boss isn't giving me a 12% raise, not even a pat on the back. I think there are better ways to handle our county issues. All those commissioners that voted for his tax increase, they know who they are, will see the voters wrath when they are up for re-election. I am always excercising my civi duty by voting, but this is ridiculous. Thanks Channel 2 for voicing my concerns. --Tom.

Cook County nothing surprises me I just wonder how long will the D-machine support him in this terrible economy, and what will they do when the people start moving out and all the vacant homes No Tax Dollars. We need a real Change not the kind we have. --Alex

I think Todd Stroger could do a better job if he hired the qualified people that was going to actually do the work to run the County system. Not just sit in plush offices with big titles. They are running through the County funds like a free for all. Him hiring his friends and family, is only hiring more people to do the work they are suspose to be doing. It is just to much waste at the expencce of the Cook county citizens. He is single handedly putting us in the poor house. We would all except the tax hikes and other increases if it was for a real reason, not to help him buy friends. His father got in this jam but he was trying to help the people (citizens) make the ends meet. It just got out of hand and the toubles were dropped in his lap and he made some bad choices. --R.R.

I have lived in the City of Chicago for seven months now, and what I have read and seen does far is outrageous. Mr. Todd Stroger performance is beyond words. I think that he is self-serving and don't care about the taxpayers of Cook County. He hires his friend and family, and they make more than they would in the private sector, and he tries to justify these actions. As as African American he does not have my support nor vote. I will do everything possible to make sure he is not reelected. I will be out campaigning for a more qualified President of the Cook County Board. And I will do whatever it takes to open up the eyes of others voters, to the incompetence of Mr. Todd Stroger. If he stays in office, he will continue to destroy this city. We will not be able to compete with other cities for tourism. Because of his mismanagment, we the taxpayers are paying the price. Thank you Mr. Stroger for destroying this city, and I look forward to you being defeated in 2010. --Mrs. BKM

Cut out all the SPOKESPERSON's for Todd Stroger if he can't speak maybe he needs to Quit.Save us some money by getting all his family and friends out of the offices they hold. I would like to THANK all The Ministers who said the father wasn't sick so they could slide in the son (Todd) to steal us BLIND, THANK YOU !!!!! --C.B.

Perhaps I should change my last name to Stroger to grab a cushy job within his administration. It seems to be the only way without being qualified for a position. --Tanya

The man is a total, totally unqualified, and surrounds himself with money grabbing people who are totally clueless on the going ons of government. This man has lied to the voting public, and positions himself with the help of taxpayer funds. This happens to be a problem with most Illinois pols. I vote for recalling him and most of the pols that steal from the taxpayers. If we as taxpayers did these things, we would be behind bars. (BTW recalling these thieves is made impossible by out elected pols) --Mike Garfinkel

Just observing his arrogance on the news is irritating. Can the Attorney General or somebody investigate his fraud pratices? I will Definitely Not vote for him in 2010! He should be kicked out and lose any pension and benifits, including his cronies. --Mark Brauninger

Terrible!! He sounds stupid when he speaks, like a high school kid. There is nothing professioanl or leader-like about him. We need a strong leader for a county president to get us out of this mess that he and his crooked father created. If any other politician did all the things that Todd did, to change the county government, he'd be called a racist. What should we call Todd Stroger? Above all else, he IS a racist!!! He filled the county offices with his friends and relatives, all black, he raised our taxes and they are all laughing at US, the fools who are paying them to do it to us.. I hope someday he goes to jail for all the crooked things he is doing. He will!! --D. Kracun

Clearly, Cook County government is bloated with expense. Anyone who is or ever has been a "customer" of Cook County, can see for themselves the inefficient use of manpower and resources. It is very evident that Stroger, who by the way was never voted into office by Cook constituents, has neither the business nor leadership skills to take the action necessary to balance his budget by cutting expenses. Until such time Stroger can demonstrate sound leadership and display good, basic, common business sense, Cook County taxpayers will continue to suffer. Last October, The Chicago Tribune, in its editorial, was absolutely correct in stating that Stroger was "clueless". He was clueless then and remains so to this day. He has not earned the right to be in the position of president of Cook County. --Forbes R.

I think a he will destory Cook County and Chicago with it. I move when out of Cook, and will not move back. He will continue with the "Standard" Chicago way, someday, some year, people will want the truth, the issue is go to back, and see just how much is wasted, CTA, Parks and Rec, its the same story over and over again. Everyone is sick of it, and maybe it will change. --Richard Rushing

Horrible. If a chimp ran against him, I'd vote for the chimp! Can we please get someone QUALIFIED for the job? Please? Hold on, I'll ask my cousin, he's an electrician. He'd be perfect! Ha. --Kim

I think Todd Stroger is a poor excuse for a Board President. He is not running the County, his cousin Donna Dunnings. She has control of the vacant positions. She hires and fires based on her dislike for you. She is meddling in ALL County business and is doing so in such an unprofessional manner. As an employee, I have seen first hand, the nepotism and favoritism. I witnessed her hiring at least two unqualified persons for high paying position without posting of the positions a clear violation of the Shakman Decree. No one in the current administration cares about fairness. Although, Dad Stroger had his issues he generally treated the non political employees with fairness, this administration could give a care less about those who are not connected, even though we are the front line workers who are qualified and dedicated to doing a good job for the County tax payers. In my department we all have vowed not to vote for Todd Stroger and we have told all our family's and our friends and with luck we can get rid of him in 2010. --Debra Smith

Terrible and I am outraged. I have been a resident of Cook County for 53 years and sick and tired of the politics and nepotism that he has brought to the county board. My real estate taxes are outrageous and now the sales taxes are outrageous. How does this politician expect to keep business and residents in this county if he keeps gifting our tax dollars out. I will never vote for him, nor his gutless county board members who can not stand up for what the taxpayers need. They have their salaries. pension. medical benifits. If these people worked in private industry they would all be fired! Im outraged and then to hire 100 more patronage employees is an insult. They should use the county services and see the kind of service ordinary people are given when certain public employees give arrogant service. I would seriously consider moving out of the county if Sroger is elected for another term. Too bad we dont have a recall option to take out unqualified elected officials. --W. Chambers

I think the bill to remove goverment officials not doing their job well should have been passed. I would, as always go vote and I would vote TO REMOVE TODD STROGER. That is my plan if I live until 2010!!! He has done more harm than anyone I can think of to add to the financial burdens we all face here in Illinois. HE SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF OFFICE. --Sharon Wheaton

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