After hours and hours of mudslinging commercials taunting who could repeal the “Stroger Tax’ the fastest, the primary election has finally come to an end with the predictable outcome.
Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle won the democratic primary, and the right to be the one to repeal the remainder of the unpopular tax. Roger Keats won the Republican nomination to have the honor of losing to Preckwinkle in November’s general election. (Sorry folks, this isn’t Massachusetts! Preckwinkle can mail this one in!)
Heard around the office water coolers was the boasting of votes cast against Stroger for re-election. While no endorsement was made by the democratic party, the CFL or AFSCME, it was wide open race for the presidency. With Stroger’s defeat, hopes of finishing this contract before his term expires was greatly diminished. With a new leader coming in November, and a county board who has become defiant, the chance of passing a contract with ‘no cuts’ is gone.
As previously reported here (see 12/16/09 entry), the county budget is healthy for 2010, but is on life support for 2011. Contract negotiations resume tomorrow.