Todd Stroger expects dad to stay on ballot
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Chicago Sun-Times
By Fran Spielman, City Hall Reporter
May 17, 2006
Ald. Todd Stroger (8th) said Tuesday he's "not looking
for a fight" with Rep. Danny Davis and now expects his
stroke-stricken father, County Board President John Stroger,
to recover enough to return to office and remain on the November
ballot.
The abrupt change in Todd Stroger's public pronouncements about
his father's political intentions was widely viewed as a freeze-the-ball
strategy.
If Todd Stroger is not certain he has the weighted votes among
the 80 ward and township Democratic committeemen -- primarily
because of Davis' entry into the race -- it is to the alderman's
advantage to put off any final decision.
"I'm not looking for a fight. I'm looking for the president
to come back. ... I always expect John Stroger to bounce back
from everything," Todd Stroger said.
Beavers enters fray
If Davis and his powerful political backers -- potential mayoral
challengers congressmen Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez
and Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) -- want to lobby behind the scenes
in an attempt to "put a coalition together, that's their
thing," Todd Stroger said.
But, the aldermen said he's not making any calls to Democratic
ward bosses. "That may be the great political thing but,
as of today, I'm concerned about John Stroger's health. . .
. My focus has been John Stroger is going to come back and,
until he says different, there's nothing to really fight for.
. . . Right now, they're just . . . shadow-boxing because the
president hasn't said he's resigned," Todd Stroger said.
"Let Danny Davis do what he likes. . . . It's John Stroger
who's the candidate and, until he says different, that's what
I respect."
The Stroger camp's strategy change also was evident in comments
by Ald. William Beavers (7th).
Beavers said he has no interest in the job because he is "almost
positive" John Stroger "will be able to come back
and run for office." And Beavers didn't mince his words
about those angling to fill a vacancy that doesn't exist.
"The only jobs that I see are available are Danny Davis'
job, [Circuit Court Clerk] Dorothy Brown's job, maybe Todd Stroger's
job and maybe some of the others who are looking to take John
Stroger's place," he said.
John Stroger, 76, suffered what doctors called a "serious"
stroke the week before the March 21 primary. Two weeks ago,
Todd Stroger told the Sun-Times that he's qualified to succeed
his dad. Last week, he said his mom wants John Stroger to retire.
Two days later, Davis declared his interest in replacing Stroger.
