Will John Daley's flip on Cook County soda tax lead to repeal?

John Daley on Thursday became the first Cook County commissioner to publicly switch sides on the contentious issue of the county's tax on sweetened beverages, telling the Chicago Sun-Times he now thinks the penny-per-ounce tax should be repealed.

Daley had been one of eight commissioners who voted for the tax when the county board approved it last year. The commissioners deadlocked on the issue, but board President Toni Preckwinkle cast the tiebreaking vote in favor of the tax.

Daley, a South Side Democrat, said public opinion swayed his vote.

“I heard from my district, and I think we're elected to represent our district,” he said. “I heard overwhelming opposition.”

• See the full story by the Chicago Sun-Times on its website, chicagosuntimes.com.