Remarks of Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Endorsement of Toni Preckwinkle
Matteson, IL
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 10:00 a.m.

Good morning.  As I prepared my remarks today, I realized I need to be careful about using superlatives when talking about Toni's tenure as a Chicago Alderman.  I go throwing around words like "best" and "brightest," I may be in some trouble when I get home.

I can safely say, however, that for nearly two decades, Toni Preckwinkle has been the example of thoughtful, progressive, independent leadership in city government.  A six-time winner of IVI-IPO's Best Alderman Award, the recipient of both the Sun-Times and Tribune endorsements and a continual thorn in the side of machine politics, Cook County has a true reformer in Toni Preckwinkle.

But beyond her independent credentials is a vision that is unmatched in this election.  Only Toni Preckwinkle is capable of creating an environment where jobs and business flourish throughout all of Cook County.

She knows that Cook County doesn't stop at the city line and that for too long suburban communities -- and particularly the South Suburbs -- have been short changed.  Toni Preckwinkle will be a Board President for all of Cook County.

She will repeal the Stroger sales tax increase, streamline County hospitals, and get rid of the fat and fraud that plague county government.

Toni recognizes the need to partner with South Suburban communities to grow the regional economy.  She knows that this growth won't happen just by expanding the size and scope of county government, but by working together with regional authorities to create an environment where private businesses thrive.

And as I've said for years, the centerpiece of revitalizing the Southland economy is the creation of the Abraham Lincoln National Airport, capable of creating 1,000 construction jobs on day one, and 15,000 permanent, high-paying jobs by opening day.  Toni knows the ALNAC plan as well as anyone and will be a tireless advocate for it when we elect her as our next County Board President.

Year after year, graft and mismanagement lead to tax increases and service cutbacks as patronage and contracts for insiders take priority over health care and public safety for ordinary citizens.  We're told time and time again that we are faced with either severe reductions in service or taking on even more tax burden.

No more.

Finally, when we elect Toni Preckwinkle as County Board President, we'll have a leader who realizes that hiring friends isn't job creation, that bloating an already wasteful government isn't a stimulus plan, and that transparency isn't just a campaign slogan, it's how you run an efficient and effective government.

Now, more than ever, Cook County is crying out for change.  Toni Preckwinkle is the change we've been waiting for.

I stand here today, surrounded by Southland leaders, to proudly endorse Toni Preckwinkle as the next President of the Cook County Board.