Cook Co. Board President to discuss issues facing county at Benedictine

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will discuss progress made in public safety, public health and economic development, Chicago politics and the issues facing the current Cook County Board at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, in the Goodwin Hall Auditorium at Benedictine University in Lisle.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

A dedicated community leader for more than two decades, Preckwinkle has worked to implement major reforms reshaping county government through fiscal responsibility, innovative leadership, improved services, transparency and accountability.

Since taking office in December 2010, Preckwinkle has solved more than $1.4 billion in budget deficits and cut $465 million in expenditures. She established the first performance management initiative to demand more accountability from government operations and employees, and her policy agenda includes critical public safety reform, strengthening the county's health care system and increasing economic development efforts.

Prior to being elected as the first female board president of the second-most populous county in the United States, Preckwinkle served as alderman of Chicago's 4th Ward for 19 years. During her tenure, she worked to improve local public schools and increased the amount of affordable housing by sponsoring two living wage and affordable housing ordinances. Preckwinkle taught high school history for 10 years before seeking elected office.

Preckwinkle was invited to speak at Benedictine by the University's nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Civic Leadership, which seeks to bring dynamic speakers to campus so that students and the larger community can fully engross themselves in multiple issues and topics of public concern.

Established in 2005, the CCL aims to improve civic engagement, leadership and education in Illinois and helps to prepare students for leadership roles in public service and as world citizens.

For more information about the lecture, visit ben.edu/cclpreckwinkle or contact Jen Zingg at (630) 829-6460 or jzingg@ben.edu.