How Sweet It Is: Preckwinkle Wins Cook County Board Primary

COOK COUNTY, IL -- Backlash from the controversial pop tax didn't hurt Toni Preckwinkle who handily won the Democratic primary, paving the way to a third term as president of the Cook County Board. Preckwinkle did battle against challenger and former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti, 60 percent to 40 percent, according to unofficial results.

Fioretti thanked his "Team Fioretti." He said it wasn't a tough loss but a hard loss.

"I have absolutely no regrets at all because I wanted to get a message out," he said. "We have to change the direction of our party."

Challenger Bob Fioretti is counting on voter backlash to the now repealed sweetened beverage tax to help him beat incumbent Toni Preckwinkle in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board president. The Cook County Board president is the county’s top executive, presiding over county board meetings, putting together a $5 billion budget and approving or vetoing legislation. The board president is also responsible for the custody and care of detainees in Cook County Jail.

Since she was elected board president in 2010, Preckwinkle has flexed her muscle as a Democratic boss, most notably they election of her hand-picked Cook County State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx. Running for her third term, she’s credited with connecting more of the county’s poor and uninsured to healthcare, reduced the county payroll and pushed for reforms to pretrial detention, reducing the Cook County Jail population, according to the Chicago Tribune endorsement. As a five-term Chicago alderman, Preckwinkle championed affordable housing. She’s taken heat for standing by embattled county assessor and fellow machine boss Joe Berrios, who’s property valuations are documented as favoring wealthy homeowners at the expense of poor communities in the county. Preckwinkle won her office by campaigning to repeal predecessor Todd Stroger’s 1-percent sales tax hike, only to reinstate it again. She said this will be her last term if elected.

Fioretti is South Side-born and bred, and the former 2nd Ward Chicago alderman. He was known as a progressive leader during his two terms on the Chicago City Council. Fioretti is a civil rights attorney who’s been involved in over 500 cases. He’s campaigned for more fiscal responsibility in county government. He says if elected he’ll hold town hall meetings throughout the county and says he won’t levy any county taxes for four years.

Follow here as we update vote percentages as soon as they come in after the polls close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY:
Bob Fioretti: 40.7%%
Toni Preckwinkle: 59.3%

75.4% of precincts reporting

Source: ABC 7 Chicago