Winds of change stir Cook County

If "change" is the buzz word of the 2008 primary season, look no further than Cook County and the Northwest suburbs to see evidence of it.

Interest is running high for Tuesday's Illinois primary -- pushed by one of the most competitive presidential fields in years. But local races also are rife with interesting twists and unexpected turns.

In Cook County, the Democratic party's iron-clad grip on power has loosened, with the result being three races that are wide open for anyone to win.

Meanwhile, two of the Northwest suburbs' most important legislative seats are in flux -- including one where the sitting Republican legislator changed parties midway through his term and now is embroiled in a debate over Democratic bona fides.

In Cook County's most high profile primary, Democratic leaders were unable to agree on a candidate to replace retiring state's attorney Dick Devine, leaving six candidates to duke it out for themselves.

Current office prosecutors Bob Milan and Anita Alvarez are competing with private attorney Tommy Brewer, Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and Chicago aldermen Howard B. Brookins and Tom Allen. The winner will face Republican Tony Peraica in the general election.

Much of the debate has been about whether the office has pursued political and police corruption as vigorously as it should, whether a non-prosecutor can run the office and how crime will be attacked by the next state's attorney.

A serious primary challenge has developed over the county recorder of deeds office, where the incumbent hasn't gotten the backing of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

Daley's endorsement, plus that of all three major Chicago area newspapers, has gone to Chicago Alderman Ed Smith, who says he'll modernize the office and perhaps even abolish it altogether.

The current recorder, Eugene Moore, says he'll continue to computerize the office. Moore has the backing of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Here in the Northwest suburbs an unusual primary battle has erupted in state House District 56, a traditionally safe Republican district covering Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Roselle and Bloomingdale. This battle, however, is between Democrats.

Attorney John Moynihan of Schaumburg says he was motivated to run in the Democratic primary out of concern for the state's constant budget crises.

But with incumbent Paul Froehlich having abandoned the GOP for the Democrats just last year, the campaign inevitably turned to an examination of the candidates' Democratic credentials.

After weeks of fairly stately debate on state issues, the discussed has devolved into accusations over campaign tactics. The winner of Tuesday's primary will face Republican Anita Forte-Scott in November. She is the president of the Schaumburg Township Library District board.

The other closely watched primary in Northwest suburban Cook is in House District 66, which covers bits of Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect and Rolling Meadows. Longtime representative Carolyn Krause's impending retirement has set off a tough primary battle on the GOP side -- one that centers on who has the best Republican credentials.

Laura Bartell of Arlington Heights, a longtime GOP party faithful, is the chosen candidate of the regular Republican organization. She also has the backing of state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine and the GOP committeemen of Elk Grove, Wheeling and Palatine township, plus several conservative groups.

Christine Prochno, an Elk Grove Village trustee, is Krause's choice to replace her in Springfield. She also is backed by the Maine Township GOP and the mayors of Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village and Rolling Meadows.

Whoever wins the GOP primary will face Democrat Mark Walker of Arlington Heights in November.

Meanwhile, flooding problems and a heightened interest in environmental issues have produced eight Democrats running for three seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board, which covers most of Cook County outside of the Barrington area.

As the Deep Tunnel project nears completion, the focus has turned to other issues --using disinfection to clean waterways; aging infrastructure; flooding along the Des Plaines River; and drainage and wetland protection.

The three Democrats who win Tuesday's primary will face three Green Party candidates in November. No Republicans filed to run in the primary, but the GOP may slate candidates to run in the general election.