Claypool refuses to play ball.
Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool said Thursday that he will neither endorse nor vote for Ald. Todd Stroger for County Board president in the November election.
Claypool, who lost the Democratic primary in March to Stroger’s father, said he objected to the way Todd Stroger was selected to replace his stroke-stricken father on the ballot. Claypool said Todd Stroger also lacks the “executive ability” to pursue reform at the county.
“I have very real concerns about whether Todd Stroger is going to be the type of president that I think my supporters–and the type of people who want change and reform–want in Cook County,” Claypool said.
Claypool got 46.5 percent of the vote in the March 21 primary. Stroger won, even though he had suffered a stroke a week before the election. He retired July 31.
The Sun-Times has this:
Claypool, meanwhile, unloaded on Democratic leaders, who he says have “thumbed their nose at the taxpayers” by putting Stroger on the ballot over better choices and “arrogantly manipulated the system for their benefit and the benefit of outsiders.”
Stroger is the nominee only because his father, longtime board President John Stroger, suffered a stroke a week before the primary, and party bosses picked him to replace his father months later.
Claypool said party leaders deceived the public about Stroger’s health to secure his victory and ensure they would be picking a replacement.
Claypool also said Todd Stroger’s record “doesn’t show he has the executive ability to step up and pursue reform.”
Meanwhile, Stroger spoke to Proviso Township Democrats and said this:
“I’m not sure what the Machine is. I’m independent of the mayor. He’s got his thing; the county has its thing.†Later he said, “Political hiring is a thing of the past.â€