Tribune & Sun Times Endorse Roger Keats
- Cook County Board President!
TRIBUNE ENDORSEMENT FOR COOK COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT
The GOP alternative: Keats
KEATS HAS EXPERIENCE TO LEAD COUNTY BOARD
January 14, 2010
Cook County's government is so vast and so complicated that an effective reformer needs more than good intentions. He or she also must understand the behind-the-scenes workings of bureaucracies and know how to deal with other elected county officials who have their own budget priorities.
With that in mind, we support veteran legislator Roger A. Keats in the Republican primary race for Cook County Board president.
Keats, 61, would eliminate the county sales tax increase imposed under incumbent Todd Stroger and trim the size of county government. Both would fight corruption by expanding the inspector general's office and support extending the term of the independent Cook County health systems board. Both consider Stroger's creation of an independent Cook County film office to be just another patronage haven.
Keats, with his 16 years of experience in the state Legislature, most of them in the Senate, comes with the background to make his reform proposals work. Although a North Shore resident, he has kept up old ties with Chicago's South and West sides.
Keats, who has had a long career selling stocks and bonds for individuals and institutions and managing teams of financial advisers, has pledged a transparent administration in which the county's checkbook and $3 billion- a-year budget would be posted on the Internet and designed for easy searches. He would end the use of pension fund and bond consultants, which he considers a waste of money.
Depending on who wins the Democratic primary, this might be the best chance for a Republican to win the board presidency since Dick Ogilvie won 44 years ago. Keats has the resume to carry the GOP banner. (Click for PDF)
Roger Keats is the Republican candidate endorsed by the GOP