GOP rivals fight for chance at upset in Cook Co. president's race
The two Republican candidates for president of the Cook County Board Wednesday both touted the chances for a GOP upset in the race - which hasn't been won by their party in 44 years.
Roger Keats, of Wilmette, pointed to the example set in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race this week.
His rival, Chicago police officer John Garrido, added, "This is the year for the Republican Party."
Otherwise, however, the two mixed it up in a half-hour debate televised on ABC 7. Keats, the slated candidate by the Cook County Republican Party, could afford to stand fast, while challenger Garrido was more combative.
Garrido tried to label Keats a "career politician" for his 16 years in the General Assembly from the late '70s to the early '90s.
"I haven't run for office in 18 years," Keats answered. "Career politician? Give me a break."
Garrido cast himself as an outsider with fresh ideas. "The Republican Party needs to let go of the past and look to the future," he said.
Keats countered by saying he had the political experience to take on "a pervasive culture of corruption" in county government and that he'd done just that in the legislature.
Garrido criticized Keats over a donation he'd received from Warren Batts, the volunteer head of the independent board overseeing the county's health and hospitals system. Keats defended that as the support of an old friend and compared it to Garrido's endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police.
Garrido promised to cut his salary 10 percent if elected president and to cut the president's office by 20 percent and the highway department budget in half. Keats said he would appoint 25 new assistant inspectors general "and turn them loose" to root out corruption.
The debate ran live on Channel 7's Web site and on a second-tier digital channel. It will air on tape at 10:30 a.m. Sunday on Channel 7.
Asked whom he would like to run against if he wins the Republican Primary Feb. 2, Garrido said in no uncertain terms he'd prefer to face incumbent President Todd Stroger, adding, "I am supporting his candidacy right now."