Posted by Greg Hinz, Crain's Chicago Business at 1/14/2010 3:58 PM CST
Tony Preckwinkle has picked up a notable endorsement in her race for president of the Cook County Board: state Rep. John Fritchey, the Democratic committeeman of Chicago's 32nd Ward and, perhaps more notably, the leading candidate to get retiring Commissioner Forrest Claypool's seat on the board.
In a statement, Mr. Fritchey termed Ms. Preckwinkle "intelligent, independent and effective," and said she "shares my view on how to fix Cook County government."
Mr. Fritchey's ward covers the Bucktown area, which is not as liberal as the lakefront but not quite Northwest Side bungalow belt either. Ms. Preckwinkle has been racking up endorsements in the former turf, but not the latter.
Mr. Fritchey's move perhaps is a sign of how the political winds are starting to blow in that part of town.