Claypool won't run, but Dart, Suffredin might
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool will not run for Cook County Board president, but Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Commissioner Larry Suffredin might.
Dart, 47, a Democrat from Chicago, has been sheriff since 2006. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world, in part because of his temporary moratorium on evictions due to the foreclosure crisis last year, and his crusade against online prostitution advertising through Craiglist.
A former county prosecutor, state senator and representative, Dart is also considering a run for Illinois attorney general if incumbent Lisa Madigan runs for governor. He said he'll decide with his family by mid-July.
"I'm very happy with what I'm doing now," Dart said. "I don't shut the door on any other options that may give me a bigger venue to get things done."
Suffredin, 61, a lawyer and North Shore Democrat, had supported Claypool until he said Claypool told him he was going to concentrate on interests in health care in the private sector. Reportedly, Claypool does not plan even to seek re-election to his county board seat. He did not return calls from the Daily Herald seeking comment.
Now Suffredin says he's forming an exploratory committee to decide in two weeks whether he can run and win.
The developments come a week after former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas, a Democrat, chose not to run against Stroger as a Republican.
Toni Preckwinkle, a Democratic Chicago alderman and occasional Mayor Richard Daley foe, said Thursday she will run against Stroger. Her Hyde Park ward is in line to host much of the 2016 Olympics if Chicago wins the bid. Democratic Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart also is a possible candidate.
Potential GOP challenges include a repeat bid by Commissioner Tony Peraica of Riverside and a run by State Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine.
Claypool had run a tight race against the late county board President John Stroger three years ago, and was expected to challenge Stroger's son, Todd Stroger.
Todd Stroger is considered vulnerable because he spearheaded a 1-percentage-point sales tax hike, giving Cook County the highest sales tax in the nation.
Suffredin, who ran and lost for Cook County state's attorney in 2007, had supported the tax increase as a deal to shift control of county health facilities, including Stroger Hospital, from the county board to an independent health board.
He said the health board has helped increase revenues enough that the county will likely reduce its sales tax by a half-point, to 1.25 percent, for a total tax under 10 percent.
The primary for county board president is Feb. 2 of next year, followed by the general election in November, so candidates must start their campaigns soon.
Run: Sheriff also eyeing attorney general seat