February 2, 2010
By JOHN P. HUSTON jhuston@pioneerlocal.com
Oak Parkers gathered at a local primary night election party cheered when it was announced that Toni Preckwinkle had won the Cook County Board president race.
Preckwinkle, a Chicago alderwoman, edged out three other candidates to take the Democratic nod.
A controversial sales tax hike proved to be a deathblow for incumbent Todd Stroger, who was seeking a second term. Stroger drew the fewest votes of Democratic candidates.
On Tuesday night, with 4,148 of 4,510 percent of precincts reporting, Preckwinkle was the projected winner with 49.4 percent of the vote.
Terrence O'Brien, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, came in second with 23.2 percent. Dorothy A. Brown, clerk of the Circuit Court, drew 14.2 percent. Stroger had 13.2 percent.
At his gathering in Oak Park, Cook County 1st District candidate Ade Onayemi was in the middle of a speech to supporters when someone announced Preckwinkle had won.
"Oh! Great!" he said over the applause. "That's good. I can sleep well tonight. That's a good step. Now we have to support her. Now that we have the county where we want them, let's not let them go."
Oak Park Village President David Pope said Preckwinkle's victory is not only good for Oak Park.
"I think it'll be great for the county as a whole," he said. "Toni is a sensible, responsible, thoughtful person who has the ability to work with people from many different backgrounds and with many different perspectives."
Preckwinkle will face Republican Roger Keats and Green Party candidate Thomas Tresser in November's General Election.