Stroger refuses to answer question on Oglesby benefits

In its first postelection meeting, the Cook County Board formally requested that President Todd Stroger contest unemployment benefits for an aide accused of corruption, but Stroger refused to say whether he would.

The board passed by acclimation a resolution calling on Stroger to contest benefits for Carla Oglesby, Stroger's former deputy chief of staff and campaign spokeswoman, who was charged last month with corruption after authorizing a series of no-bid contracts just under the $25,000 threshold requiring board approval including one to her own public-relations firm.

Stroger accepted her resignation after she was arrested and charged, but resolution sponsors John Daley of Chicago and Larry Suffredin of Evanston pointed out the benefits, which Oglesby later filed for, are typically granted unless the employer contests them. Their resolution called on Stroger to do so.

“It's a request,” Daley said.

“You can ignore our request,” Suffredin added.

“Don't worry,” Stroger responded. “I know what my rights are.”

Stroger earlier called the resolution the latest in a series of board maneuvers designed to “run the president's business.”

Democratic Chicago Commissioners Joseph Mario Moreno, Deborah Sims and William Beavers all Stroger allies raised objections to the resolution.

Sims said it wasn't the board's business.

“It's not our decision,” Beavers echoed.

“No matter how ugly things look, she's still innocent until proven guilty,” Moreno added.

“We have to let the courts decide if she's guilty,” Stroger said. “I'm not going to do that.”

Even so, the resolution was approved without a roll-call vote.

“I'm confident you will do the right thing,” Suffredin said.

“I always do the right thing,” Stroger replied.

Yet the president, defeated in the Democratic Primary by Chicago Hyde Park Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, who went on to win election to the office Tuesday, reacted in a recalcitrant manner and refused to commit himself one way or the other.

“He hasn't made a decision,” Stroger spokesman Marcel Bright said afterward.

Otherwise, the meeting was without incident, even though outspoken Riverside Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica joined Stroger and Moreno as lame ducks after losing his re-election bid Tuesday.

“Congratulations to all those who won,” Stroger said. “And to those who lost, there is life after, I can tell you that.”

Without sniping at Peraica, a frequent rival, Moreno said, “Going forward, the board will be a more cohesive, peaceful board.”