Chicago Sun-Times Editorial:
We said it once, but we'll say it again: Chicago Ald. Toni Preckwinkle is far and away the best candidate running in Tuesday's Democratic primary for Cook County Board president.
For the sake of clean and smart county government -- and, goodness knows, we could use more of that -- we strongly urge you to vote for her.
We don't normally do this -- give a little second-effort push over the goal line for a particular candidate. We like to endorse a candidate once and keep moving. So many more endorsements to make, so little time.
But if you vote in the Democratic primary, your choice for County Board president may be the most important vote you cast. The winner almost surely will be the next board president, though he or she still will face a Republican challenger in November. Cook County hasn't elected a Republican board president in more than 40 years.
One fact alone should endear you to Preckwinkle: Among the four candidates running, she alone fully supports making permanent an independent board of professionals that now runs the county's hospitals and clinics. That board has found ways to save taxpayers millions of dollars and improve services.
Preckwinkle, a former teacher and University of Chicago-educated policy wonk, is brainy and independent. As an alderman, she has been unafraid to take on Mayor Daley. She has pledged to repeal in full Todd Stroger's unpopular penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase. She has identified sensible ways to reduce county spending.
And she has been endorsed not only by the Sun-Times, but by every major newspaper in Cook County.
For seemingly the longest time now, the people of Cook County have had almost zero faith in the competency of those running the show.
Elect a President Preckwinkle and our faith may be restored.