The Election File Voting Guide: Cook County’s down-ballot races

October 29, 2010

With the intense general election for Cook County assessor, and – to a lesser extent – the one for board president, you’ve likely heard the arguments tossed around by each candidate on why they’re the better fit. If not, take a look at a few stories about the assessor’s race, and check out the Eight Forty-Eight interviews with board president hopefuls Roger Keats, Toni Preckwinkle and Tom Tresser.
 
On the blog today, we’re going to look at some contests a bit further down the Cook County ballot that are attracting next-to-no media attention. The Democratic incumbents are heavy favorites, but that’s no reason you can't read up on their opponents.
 
 
We’ve listed the candidates in alphabetical order, and included links to their campaign websites, money filings with the Illinois State Board of Elections and any endorsements they received from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times or Daily Herald.
 
County Clerk
 
 
David Orr has been clerk for nearly two decades. A win on November 2nd would return the former Chicago alderman (and, briefly, mayor) to office for a sixth term.
County Sheriff
 
 
Tom Dart this week announced he would NOT run for mayor in 2011. The former state legislator is seeking a second term as sheriff.
County Treasurer
 
Maria Pappas is seeking her fourth term as treasurer. She is a former county board commissioner.
Others running for county office
 
Cook County voters will also elect commissioners to the county board on November 2nd. Some – though not all – county voters will also elect a Board of Review commissioner, who deals with property assessment appeals, and commissioners to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Find out more about those candidates on the Cook County Clerk’s website.
 
Still to come
 
This is the fourth installment of our general election voting guides. Here are the others: