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Politics & Government

Tobolski Hopes to Spoil Peraica's Cook County Board Re-Election Bid

Political observers give the edge to Peraica based on his name recognition, media exposure, and history of winning the district.

Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica believes his anti-corruption message will ensure voters return him to the board for the third time this November; McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski is hoping to play spoiler.

Tobolski, a Democrat, is challenging the incumbent Republican for the 16th District of Cook County, which includes La Grange and La Grange Park. Tobolski said Peraica is good at garnering media attention but isn't great at helping the municipalities in the 16th district. Tobolski also questions Peraica's ability to work in a bipartisan manner, saying Peraica has a reputation of being abrasive and uncooperative.

"The only thing he's been good at during his time on the board is getting on television," Tobolski said. "The people are tired of his grandstanding and his constant seeking of higher office. They want someone who will work for them."

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In 2008, Peraica ran for Cook County State's Attorney against Democrat Anita Alvarez. In 2006, he ran for Cook County Board President against Democrat Todd Stroger. He lost both times.

But Peraica's ability at attracting media attention is one of the things likely to have voters return him to the county board, political analysts say.

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"Tony Peraica is the most visible of all Cook County Commissioners," said Dick Simpson, a political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "He is constantly in the newspapers and has his own television and radio show."

Simpson said Peraica has strong name recognition among voters of not only his district, but throughout Cook County.

Peraica, one of six Republicans on the Board, said Cook County suffers from over-taxation and political corruption.

Cook County's sales tax rate dropped from 1.75 percent to 1.25 percent in July. But when that rate is coupled with municipal sales tax rates that can be as high as 8.5 percent—Chicago's sales tax—it still makes Cook the highest-taxed county in Illinois.

"We live in this area of the state that everyone associates with corruption and high taxes. It makes people examine if they really want to come here and open a business," Peraica said. "Those who are already here are taking their business out of the county and shopping in places like DuPage."

Bruno Behrend, director of the Center for School Reform at the Heartland Institute, a nonprofit public policy firm based in Chicago, said he doesn't think Tobolski will be able to mount a strong enough challenge to unseat the 16th District incumbent. Behrend said Peraica's anti-corruption message resonates well with the people of Cook County.

Peraica handily won the February 2010 Republican primary for the seat with 78 percent of the vote. In 2006, Peraica won the general election by defeating Democrat William Gomolinski, with 51 percent of the vote.

Despite that history, Tobolski believes he can win.

He said he has the support of 19 of the 24 mayors in the 16th district. He said the mayors believe Peraica is only good at promoting himself and his politics rather than the overall needs of the district and county.

Tobolski said he has a track record of being able to work with other leaders in the district—he criticizes Peraica for being unable to work well with other members of the board, Democrats and Republicans alike.

As mayor of McCook, Tobolski said he demonstrated he can bring new business to the district, despite tough economic times. He also said he reduced a $2.5 million deficit but has a record of increasing personnel in the police, fire and public works departments without raising taxes. He said he also had a role in bringing an indoor sports arena to McCook that draws over 350,000 patrons annually.

On his Web site, Peraica said he sheds light on shady political practices in county and municipal government. Peraica said eliminating the image of corruption in Cook County will help attract jobs.

Peraica said he also wants to reform the payroll and pension system in the county and claims credit for helping to reduce the number of county employees from 28,000 to around 23,000.

In May, Peraica proposed an amendment to the Cook County ethics ordinance that would outlaw lobbying by county employees and strengthen the ordinance on conflicts of interest by county officials. Peraica has other ethics ordinances pending before the board.

Simpson said those ethics proposals will keep Peraica in the news and on voters' minds. Behrend agreed. He said when the media covers public corruption, people tend to follow those stories.

Both Simpson and Behrend said Democrats in the suburban counties are placing more attention on holding threatened congressional districts than they are in keeping Peraica off the Cook County Board.

"There are areas of greater vulnerability where Democrats will put their resources this fall. I'll be surprised if much of a coordinated challenge is mounted in Peraica's district," Behrend said.

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