Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown to challenge Todd Stroger in 2010

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown on Friday announced she'll challenge Todd Stroger for the county board presidency in 2010.

Pledging reform, good financial management and strong leadership, Brown took a page from President Obama's successful election strategy and said it's time for change in Cook County.

"The time is right for a board president with a proven track record of saving taxpayers money, reforming county government and finding innovative solutions to raise revenue and solve our problems," Brown said. "We need to stop politics as usual."

A Stroger spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Brown, the court clerk since 2000, was the first black person to hold that post. She was re-elected to a four-year term in 2008.

She unsuccessfully challenged Richard M. Daley in the Chicago mayor's race in 2007.

In a news release issued Friday morning, Brown said she opposes the notorious 1-percent sales tax increase the county board approved last year.

She also said her office has saved more than $187 million in tax dollars by improving fee and fine collections, has collected more than $21 million from defendants who hadn't paid court fees and has modernized its technology.

"We've accomplished a lot," Brown said. "We want to reform county government the same way."

Stroger has been widely criticized for his support of the sales-tax increase, hiring practices and other issues since being elected in 2006. His controversies actually started before he took office when Democratic leaders named him the party's nominee after his father, John Stroger, suffered a debilitating stroke.

Brown is the latest in a growing field of Democrats who've announced interest in supplanting Stroger.

Sheriff Tom Dart, County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, Chicago Alderman Toni Preckwinkle and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board President Terrence J. O'Brien have voiced interest in the post, too.

Of that group, only Preckwinkle has publicly declared she'll be a candidate in 2010.

Republican county Commissioner Tony Peraica also is considering a run.

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