President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer of Cook County, Illinois, the second-most populous county in the United States. The office was established in 1970 following a restructuring of the county's government, replacing the previous position of County Board chairman. The president oversees a vast government apparatus with an annual budget exceeding $8 billion, responsible for healthcare, law enforcement, and infrastructure across the county's vast jurisdiction, which includes the city of Chicago and 128 suburban municipalities.

History

The modern executive office was created by a 1970 referendum that replaced the traditional Cook County Board of Commissioners chairmanship with a directly elected, full-time president, a reform championed by figures like Mayor Richard J. Daley. This change aimed to provide clearer executive accountability for the massive public health system, the sheriff's office, and the forest preserve district. The first president, George W. Dunne, a powerful Democratic committeeman, was elected that year. Subsequent presidents have included John H. Stroger Jr., for whom the county hospital is named, and his son, Todd Stroger, whose tenure was marked by a controversial sales tax increase. The current president, Toni Preckwinkle, previously a Chicago alderman, has held the office since 2010, focusing on criminal justice reform and public health initiatives.

Powers and duties

The president possesses strong executive powers, including preparing the county's multi-billion dollar annual budget for approval by the Board of Commissioners, vetoing board legislation, and appointing the heads of major departments like the health system and the Department of Transportation and Highways. The office also chairs the Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners and oversees the county's economic development and policy agenda. Key responsibilities involve managing the Cook County Jail, one of the largest single-site jails in the nation, and the network of circuit courts, the largest unified court system in the United States. The president works closely with other major local executives, including the Mayor of Chicago and the Governor of Illinois.

Election and succession

The president is elected on a partisan ballot during the Illinois gubernatorial election cycle for a four-year term, with no term limits. Elections are often dominated by the Democratic Party, reflecting the county's strong Democratic lean. If the office becomes vacant, the vice president of the Board of Commissioners serves as acting president until a special election is held. This succession mechanism was utilized in 2006 when Bobbie L. Steele briefly served as acting president following the death of John H. Stroger Jr.. The president must be a qualified elector and resident of Cook County.

List of presidents

# George W. Dunne (1970–1990) # Richard Phelan (1990–1994) # John H. Stroger Jr. (1994–2006) # Bobbie L. Steele (acting, 2006) # Todd Stroger (2006–2010) # Toni Preckwinkle (2010–present)

See also

* Cook County, Illinois * Cook County Board of Commissioners * Government of Chicago * List of counties in Illinois * Toni Preckwinkle

Category:Presidents of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Category:Cook County, Illinois Category:Illinois county officials