Cook
County Board President Todd H. Stroger was sworn in as the
33rd President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
on December 4, 2006.
President
Stroger’s career in public service began as an employee
for the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County, where
he served as Jury Supervisor to the Cook County Jury Commissioners.
Later, he served as an administrative assistant for the
Chicago Park District.
In
1992, Stroger ran successfully ran for State Representative
of the 31st Legislative District. In the legislature, he
worked intimately on issues affecting the daily lives of
Cook County residents. Throughout his career in Springfield,
Stroger consistently led Democratic efforts to reform state
government, improve the quality of life in Illinois, and
bring social justice to all citizens. He worked to control
taxes and reduce spending, to increase access to affordable
health care and to eliminate wage discrimination against
women.
On
September 5, 2001, Stroger was appointed by Mayor Richard
Daley to fill the office of the late Alderman Lorraine Dixon
and, in February 2003, won re-election to that office. As
Alderman, Stroger was instrumental in bringing affordable
housing to people of all income levels. Additionally, he
brought much-needed commercial development to the community;
assisted neighborhoods in their beautification efforts;
aided in street, sidewalk, and curb repairs; organized one
of the largest community back-to-school events in the city;
and sponsored numerous free summer sports programs for children
in the community.
President Todd Stroger's Administration
is committed to reinventing Cook County government, by effecting
real change in the government’s operations and finding
creative solutions to its myriad challenges.
President
Stroger is a product of a long tradition of public service.
His father, John H. Stroger, Jr., is a former three-term
President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and
long-time Eighth Ward Democratic Committeeman who spent
more than three decades in public service, helping bring
much-needed social services to the poor, uninsured and underserved
residents of Cook County.
President
Stroger is a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and of
Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he matriculated
with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. His professional
experience also includes work as an investment banker at
SBK-Brooks Investment Corporation.
President
Stroger was born and raised on the south side of Chicago
in the Chatham-Avalon community, where he continues to reside
today with his devoted wife, Jeanine, and their son, Hans
Eric, and daughter, Claire. The Stroger family attends St.
Felicitas Catholic Church.
