Terry O'Brien could save Cook County

August 27, 4:08 PMCook County Buzz ExaminerMike Houlihan

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Water Reclamation District President Terrence J. O'Brien

Since being elected in 2006, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has made more missteps in his career than Wrong Way Corrigan.

Every morning when they wake up, Cook County taxpayers say to themselves, “It’s just another day in hell.”

Unemployment statistics are vastly under-reported because the self-employed, the seasonally employed, and the never-employed are not counted.

Bill collectors call them every twenty minutes starting each day at 8 AM harassing these poor people who would pay up if they only could.

Every purchase they make to survive is taxed at over 10% thanks to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Stroger hires his inept pals and his cousin’s felonious boyfriend at taxpayer expense.

At least in the old days when pols hired their relatives or friends they were fairly competent at their jobs or they were hidden away where they couldn’t screw things up.

Everyday Cook County taxpayers live under the burden of Todd Stroger’s 133% tax increase while trying to make ends meet. The optimists among them hope for some relief. But when will it come?

In 2010, voters in Cook County will finally get the opportunity to vote Todd Stroger out of office. They will definitely have choices this time around. Congressman Danny Davis, Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, and Alderman Toni Preckwinkle have all declared their candidacies.That makes four African Americans running for the seat, including Stroger.

While each has a history of accomplishments, none can compare to the resume of recently declared candidate Terrence J. O’Brien.

O’Brien has served as President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, (MWRDGC), for 13 years and has served on the board of Commissioners for 21 years. He has overseen a budget in excess of $1 billion and runs one of the few government agencies in the State of Illinois to have an AAA bond rating from all three bond rating agencies.

O’Brien boasts of a “professional workforce”, because his employees are “hired for what they know and not who they know! They are required to take exams!”

Exams for public employees? Now that’s an idea that should strike fear into the heart of every loafer who ever picked up a paycheck from the county payroll. Maybe we should start holding exams for public office.

If an administrative exam were given for President of the Cook County Board could all the candidates pass? Would they ask to be graded on a curve? And who in the world would be grading these exams? Hopefully it wouldn’t be Todd Stroger’s cousin.

If Terry O’Brien can get his message out to all Cook County voters we might actually turn the corner on the ineptitude of the last few years. O’Brien represents the best opportunity for greater financial accountability and real leadership for the Cook County Board. He says, “I want to do for Cook County what I have done for the Water Reclamation District.”

It sure would be nice to wake up some morning next year and know that there is a professional in charge. If the electorate has the opportunity to learn more about Terry O'Brien, Cook County's days of misery may soon be over. Let's hope so.