Opinion

For Cook County Board president, Republican: Keats

Posted January 19, 2010 10:00 pm

Roger Keats, who had retired from a period of 16 years in the state legislature and then a career in the financial services industry, entered the race for president of the Cook County Board race because of the disarray he saw in county government. He, like others, calls for full repeal of the sales tax increase, wants to fight corruption and waste and speaks knowledgeably about what it will take to improve economic opportunity and restore sanity to the management of county resources.

A general-election contest between him and Toni Preckwinkle, our choice in the Democratic primary, would be an engaging race that could not help but lead to better government.

Keats, 61, of Wilmette, is facing an assertive and sincere political newcomer in attorney and Chicago Police Lt. John Garrido, 42, of Chicago, but the complexities of politics and personality in Cook County government demand someone with more seasoning in the operations of government, and Keats fills that bill well.

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