Brown claims victory in circuit court clerk primary
Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown said she feels "vindicated" by her easy victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday, in which she came in 160,000 votes ahead of her closest challenger.
The 15-year veteran clerk couldn't resist a shot at the Cook County Democratic Party, which revoked its endorsement of her last October and instead put its money and clout behind Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris.
"I thank the Democratic Party for dumping me," Brown said Tuesday night, savoring her win. "They have given me the opportunity to get my voice back, to reconnect with people and to connect with new people."
Brown didn't just have the Democrats' defection hanging over her head. Dogged by accusations that the second largest unified court system in the nation is a huge patronage haven and is hopelessly antiquated, Brown also had the spectre of a federal investigation to contend with.
Still, with about 97 percent of Chicago and suburban Cook County precincts reporting at 11:30 p.m., Brown had 451,680 votes to Harris' 290,581 votes. In third place was attorney and civil rights advocate Jacob Meister - who won the endorsement of all three major daily newspapers - with 208,010 votes. All results are unofficial.
The Cook County Democratic Party switched its endorsement to Harris after federal authorities revealed they were investigating charges related to the purchase of jobs and promotions in the clerk's office.
The probe centers on former employee Sivasubramani Rajaram, 48, who prosecutors say was rehired in 2014 weeks after he loaned $15,000 to Goat Masters Corp., where Brown's husband, Benton Cook III, is president.
In December, Rajaram pleaded not guilty lying to a federal grand jury. However, court records show a change of plea hearing is scheduled for April 20, when Rajaram is expected to plead guilty.
Brown, who has not been charged with any crime, says she feels vindicated by her primary win.
Meister criticized Brown for presiding over an office he described as "mired in ethical and operational dysfunction." She refuted those claims insisting that employees are hired and promoted based on merit.
Diane Shapiro, Republican committeeman for Chicago's 46th ward, ran unopposed in her party's primary and will face Brown in November's general election.