Our picks for Cook County offices

For Cook County state's attorney, Anita Alvarez is the clear choice for her experience, understanding of the office and dedication to its mission.

Republican challenger Anthony Peraica, a Cook County Board member known for his outspoken criticism of the county administration, has tried to make a case that the state's attorney's office is incapacitated by internal politics and needs to focus more attention on rooting out government corruption. But such thinking shows a lack of appreciation for the functions of the office, which certainly has more than enough of a challenge keeping up with the violent crime that is its primary focus.

While it's naive to suggest that politics doesn't play a role in the nation's second-largest prosecutorial office, Alvarez, a Cook County prosecutor for 22 years, demonstrates the strength and independence to address the office's structural problems and shape it into an effective organization going forward. Attorney Thomas O'Brien also is seeking the position from the Green Party, but it's Alvarez who has the best personal and professional qualifications.

In the races for clerk of the circuit court and recorder of deeds, we are calling for a change in administrations to instill greater respect for the taxpayers and improve office efficiencies. Republican Diane Shapiro and the Green Party's Paloma Andrade are challenging circuit court clerk incumbent Democrat Dorothy Brown, who has failed to sufficiently address complaints about filing and customer service that have dogged her office from the beginning. It's Shapiro, a probation officer with a longtime familiarity with the office, who is best suited to take the helm and restore a commitment to excellence.

Incumbent Democrat Eugene Moore appears to manage the recorder of deeds office as though it is his reward as a lifelong and loyal member of the Chicago Democratic machine. Republican Gregory Goldstein and the Green Party's Terrence A. Gilhooly would seek to change that, and Goldstein has the legal background and direct experience with the office to do it effectively.

Nine candidates are seeking three seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District: Incumbent Democrats Frank Avila, Kathleen Therese Meany, and Cynthia M. Santos; Republicans David Clearwater, Paul Chialdikas and Daniel Flores; and, of the Green Party, Rita Bogolub, Nadine Bopp and John Alley. We favor the experience and background of incumbents Avila, Meany and Santos.