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John Stroger
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EARLY BEGINNINGS


John Stroger was born May 19, 1929 in Helena, Arkansas . A graduate of Xavier University in Louisiana he earned a B.S. in business administration in 1953. Stroger then relocated to Chicago in 1953 and became active in the Democratic party in the South side of Chicago. After only a year Stroger was appointed as an assistant auditor with the Municipal Court of Chicago. Stroger then served as personnel director for the Cook County Jail from 1955 to 1961. Stoger attended Law School at DePaul University and graduated in 1965. While earning a law degree he worked for the financial director of the State of Illinois. In 1968, Stroger was elected 8th Ward Committeeman. After his election to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1970, Stroger went on to chair every major committee including finance, health, building and zoning. As Commissioner, Stroger sponsored legislation aimed at assisting minority- and female-owned businesses.
Stroger is Also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha , the first national Greek letter Phrat for African Americans


BOARD PRESIDENT


Stroger has completed much he set out to do as board president including balancing the county's $2.9 billion dollar budget. He also instituted a Juvenile Drug Court, appointed a Commission on Women's Issues and opened a new AIDS treatment and research facility. Stroger serves on the Chicago Metropolitan Healthcare Council and the board of South Shore Hospital. His efforts to win approval for a new Cook County Hospital have resulted in the facility being named the John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital while Stroger was Cook County Board President. Stroger is past president of the National Association of Counties and was appointed by former President Bill Clinton as a member of the Advisory Committee On Intergovernmental Relations.


RELIGION AND FAMILY


A long time member of St. Felicitas Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago, Stroger and his wife, Yonnie, have a son, Todd, and a daughter, Yonnie Lynn. Another son, Hans Eric passed away while in college. Stroger's surviving son, Todd, is alderman of Chicago's eighth ward.


CURRENT CONFLICTS


Stroger has come under increased fire in recent years for what his critics call a scandal- and patronage-ridden administration. Stroger supporters claim that he has committed his public career to providing quality and affordable health care for the poorer residents of Cook County and that this is reflected by the fact that the new Cook County Hospital was named in honor of Stroger in 2001. Stroger Hospital has been criticized for having 134 fewer beds than its predecessor and unused beds in a pediatric wing that cannot be used by adults waiting for care.


CAMPAIGN FOR COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT 2006


Stroger defeated two opponents in the 1994 Democratic Primary for county board president after incumbent President Richard Phelan unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor. In 1998 , he defeated a Republican-turned-Democrat challenger and Cook County Commissioner Cal Sutker. Stroger decided to seek his fourth term in 2006 and was challenged by Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool (Democrat), a reform candidate who has accused Stroger of presiding over a "bloated" government.


Election Results

Despite suffering a severe Stroke on March 15, 2006, just a week before the primary election, John Stroger still managed to secure his parties support by a final margin of 53% to 46% over challenger, Forrest Claypool . Although he has overcome adversity in the form of health complications in the past, questions still linger regarding his ability to serve another term a Cook County Board President. Some are now worried that if Stroger cannot serve, his successor will be selected by the Cook County board members leaving the voters without a say.


Current Condition

Currently Stroger is making sigificant progress. Although he cannot yet walk, he is communicating openly and doctors expect him to make a recovery. Stroger has an extended history of medical complications as a diabetic who underwent a quadruple bypass in 2002. Despite these hurdles Stroger has bounced back each time. On April 5, 2006 Stroger was moved to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to continue his treatment for partial paralisis on his left side and other damage caused by the stroke. No other official details have been released since March 17, 2006. It is unknown when Stroger will be able to conduct the duties of Cook County Board President for the remaining 9 months of his current term, or continue to campaign for a fourth term.