John Stroger
Encyclopedia
John H. Stroger, Jr. was an American
politician who served from 1994 until 2006 as the first African-American president of the Cook County
, Illinois
Board of Commissioners. Stroger was a member of the Democratic Party
. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity. Cook County's Stroger Hospital was renamed in his honor.
. In 1953 he graduated from Xavier University
in Louisiana
with a B.S. in business administration. 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. Stroger attended law school
at the DePaul University College of Law
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 board committee, including finance, health, building and zoning. As Commissioner, Stroger sponsored legislation aimed at assisting minority- and female-owned businesses.
treatment and research facility. Stroger served on the Chicago Metropolitan Healthcare Council and the board of South Shore Hospital. The new Cook County Hospital was renamed the John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital
after Stroger while he was serving as County Board President. Stroger was a 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.
unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor. Stroger trounced Republican Aurelia Pucinski in the general election, beating her even in many white ethnic wards, to the surprise of many "machine" watchers. In the 1998 Democratic primary, he defeated a suburban challenger, Cook County Commissioner Calvin R. Sutker. In 2002, Stroger had no Democratic primary challenger and went on to rout Republican challenger Christopher Bullock by a margin of more than two to one. Stroger sought a fourth term in 2006 and was challenged in the Democratic primary by Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool
, who ran as a reform candidate and accused Stroger of presiding over a "bloated" government.
just a week before the primary election, John Stroger still managed to secure his party's support by a final margin of 53 percent to 47 percent over Claypool. The severity of Stroger's condition was concealed from voters both before the primary election and for three months thereafter, possibly allowing his primary victory and preventing independent opposition to the replacement Democratic candidate in the general election. Although he had overcome health complications in the past, questions still lingered regarding his ability to serve another term as Cook County Board President.
In late June 2006 John Stroger was removed from the Democratic ticket for Cook County Board President and replaced by his son, Todd Stroger
. Stroger also resigned as Cook County Board President effective August 1 and was replaced by interim president Bobbie L. Steele
. Republicans and some Democrats saw the move as nepotism, and Claypool even told the Chicago Sun-Times
that he would not vote in the November general election. Todd Stroger faced a challenge in that race from Republican Tony Peraica
, a vocal critic of the John Stroger regime. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
blasted Claypool, his own former chief of staff, and warned that Claypool risked "destroying [his] political career" by not backing Stroger against Peraica. While Peraica did very well in suburban Cook County, Todd Stroger received strong support from the powerful Mayor Daley and the Chicago Democratic machine. Stroger's strength among Chicago voters allowed him to win the election with 54 percent of the total vote.
and underwent a quadruple bypass in 2001. In March 2006 the Board President suffered a severe stroke
, which caused him to suffer partial paralysis
. Other neurological complications occurred. After the stroke John Stroger never again appeared in public.
Further information about Stroger's condition was released to the public through indirect disclosures. In July 2006, WBBM-TV
reported that he was back in the hospital after suffering seizures. Todd Stroger broke a long public silence in December 2007, telling the Sun-Times that his father had been improving until the seizures began. Now, though, "it's just a matter of making sure he's comfortable," Todd said. He also noted that once the seizures started, "He's not been better since."
John Stroger died on January 18, 2008, age 78. He cast an absentee ballot for Barack Obama in the Illinois Democratic Presidential Primary before he died.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who served from 1994 until 2006 as the first African-American president of the Cook County
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Board of Commissioners. Stroger was a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity. Cook County's Stroger Hospital was renamed in his honor.
Early life
John Stroger was born May 19, 1929 in Helena, ArkansasHelena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas. As of the 2000 census, this portion of the city population was 6,323. Helena was the county seat of Phillips County until January 1, 2006, when it merged its government and city limits with...
. In 1953 he graduated from Xavier University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana , located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher education...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
with a B.S. in business administration. 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. Stroger attended law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law
DePaul University College of Law is a law school located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Founded in 1897 as the Illinois College of Law, the school became part of DePaul University in 1912 and is one of the academic colleges of DePaul, a Big East Conference university. The College is known for its...
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 board committee, including finance, health, building and zoning. As Commissioner, Stroger sponsored legislation aimed at assisting minority- and female-owned businesses.
Board president
Stroger completed much of what 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 AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
treatment and research facility. Stroger served on the Chicago Metropolitan Healthcare Council and the board of South Shore Hospital. The new Cook County Hospital was renamed the John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
The John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, formerly Cook County Hospital is a public urban teaching hospital in Chicago that provides primary, specialty and tertiary healthcare services to the five million residents of Cook County, Illinois. The hospital has a staff of 300 attending...
after Stroger while he was serving as County Board President. Stroger was a past president of the National Association of Counties and was appointed by former President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
as a member of the Advisory Committee On Intergovernmental Relations.
Religion and family
John Stroger was a longtime member of St. Felicitas Catholic Church on the South Side of Chicago. He and his wife, Yonnie, were the parents of three children, two of whom survive him: son Todd and daughter Yonnie Lynn. Another son, Hans Eric, died a year after graduating from his father's alma mater, Xavier University of Louisiana. Todd Stroger succeeded John as Cook County Board President.Conflicts as Cook County Board President
Stroger came under increased fire in the later years of his presidency for what his critics call a scandal- and patronage-ridden administration. Stroger supporters counterclaimed that he dedicated his public career to providing quality and affordable health care for the poorer residents of Cook County.Campaigns for Cook County Board President
In the 1994 Democratic primary election, Stroger defeated two opponents for county board president, which had been made on open office when incumbent President Richard PhelanRichard Phelan (politician)
Richard J. Phelan is a politician from the US state of Illinois. Phelan is noted for his service as Cook County Board President from 1990-1994.-References:...
unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor. Stroger trounced Republican Aurelia Pucinski in the general election, beating her even in many white ethnic wards, to the surprise of many "machine" watchers. In the 1998 Democratic primary, he defeated a suburban challenger, Cook County Commissioner Calvin R. Sutker. In 2002, Stroger had no Democratic primary challenger and went on to rout Republican challenger Christopher Bullock by a margin of more than two to one. Stroger sought a fourth term in 2006 and was challenged in the Democratic primary by Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool
Forrest Claypool
Forrest Claypool is an American politician and political operative. A former Democratic member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Claypool serves as president of the Chicago Transit Authority...
, who ran as a reform candidate and accused Stroger of presiding over a "bloated" government.
2006 election
The 2006 election was among the most controversial in the colorful history of Cook County politics. Despite suffering a severe strokeStroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
just a week before the primary election, John Stroger still managed to secure his party's support by a final margin of 53 percent to 47 percent over Claypool. The severity of Stroger's condition was concealed from voters both before the primary election and for three months thereafter, possibly allowing his primary victory and preventing independent opposition to the replacement Democratic candidate in the general election. Although he had overcome health complications in the past, questions still lingered regarding his ability to serve another term as Cook County Board President.
In late June 2006 John Stroger was removed from the Democratic ticket for Cook County Board President and replaced by his son, Todd Stroger
Todd Stroger
Todd H. Stroger is the former president of the Cook County, Illinois Board and a former alderman for the 8th Ward in Chicago. Stroger is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2001, he was appointed to the Chicago City Council by Richard M. Daley...
. Stroger also resigned as Cook County Board President effective August 1 and was replaced by interim president Bobbie L. Steele
Bobbie L. Steele
Bobbie L. Steele was sworn in as the 32nd president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners on August 1, 2006. She had been commissioner for the 2nd District of Cook County, Illinois for 20 years and served out the remainder of the current presidential term through December 4, 2006.-Early...
. Republicans and some Democrats saw the move as nepotism, and Claypool even told the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
that he would not vote in the November general election. Todd Stroger faced a challenge in that race from Republican Tony Peraica
Tony Peraica
Anthony J. "Tony" Peraica was the Cook County Commissioner for the 16th district, and was the Republican nominee for Cook County Board President in 2006.-Life:...
, a vocal critic of the John Stroger regime. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
blasted Claypool, his own former chief of staff, and warned that Claypool risked "destroying [his] political career" by not backing Stroger against Peraica. While Peraica did very well in suburban Cook County, Todd Stroger received strong support from the powerful Mayor Daley and the Chicago Democratic machine. Stroger's strength among Chicago voters allowed him to win the election with 54 percent of the total vote.
Health problems and death
Stroger had an extensive history of medical complications. He was a diabetic, had battled prostate cancerProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
and underwent a quadruple bypass in 2001. In March 2006 the Board President suffered a severe stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, which caused him to suffer partial paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
. Other neurological complications occurred. After the stroke John Stroger never again appeared in public.
Further information about Stroger's condition was released to the public through indirect disclosures. In July 2006, WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
reported that he was back in the hospital after suffering seizures. Todd Stroger broke a long public silence in December 2007, telling the Sun-Times that his father had been improving until the seizures began. Now, though, "it's just a matter of making sure he's comfortable," Todd said. He also noted that once the seizures started, "He's not been better since."
John Stroger died on January 18, 2008, age 78. He cast an absentee ballot for Barack Obama in the Illinois Democratic Presidential Primary before he died.