After more than 18 years as alderman for the 4th ward, Toni Preckwinkle is now challenging big names like Todd Stroger and Rep. Danny Davis for Cook County Board president.
Known for her sometimes vocal opposition to Mayor Richard M. Daley, the 62-year-old University of Chicago graduate was first elected to City Council in 1991, when she took over Chicago’s Near South Side ward from Timothy Evans.
Among Preckwinkle’s top priorities is the progressive scaling back of the one percet sales tax passed by Stroger in 2007. The goal is to repeal the tax.
In December 2009, Preckwinkle picked up the endorsement of the New Trier Democratic Organization with 83 percent of the votes.
