Two downstate state lawmakers think Cook County should be its own state because it is always bossing around the rest of Illinois. more ›

Remember last year when Palatine residents, fed up with the antics of Todd Stroger and the County Board, supported a nonbinding resolution to secede from Cook County? more ›

• Cook County Board President Todd Stroger says he won't fight a war of secession against the towns that voted to leave Cook County, mainly to avoid county taxes, and create their own county. Stroger warned, though, that Barrington, Hanover and Palatine townships might be in over their heads. "But, what they do need to know is when they do that, they will have to have their own jail," he said. "They'll have to have their own elected officials; clerk, sheriff and all that. It's not going to save them money, it's going to cost them more money." [Daily Herald]
• Stroger fired human resources assistant and former University of Georgia basketball player Tony Cole, after finding out that Cole neglected to mention a felony conviction for writing bad checks. Stroger personally hired Cole in October 2008, overlooking his various misdemeanor and felony offenses in the past, since Cole vowed to get his life back on track. He was hired as an administrative assistant in the budget department and had already been promoted to the HR position in the highway department and given a raise. Employees are worried now, since he had access to their personal information. [Sun-Times]
• The Todd-ler wants your vote again. He announced (again) that he plans to run for re-election in 2010.

Barrington, Hanover and Palatine townships voted to secede from Cook County Tuesday night in a non-binding advisory vote. There's been some debate as to whether this is actually feasible, and what the true motives behind the vote actually are. It's been pointed out that leaving Cook and founding a new county would be costly and burdensome to taxpayers, while supporters of the exodus argue that Cook County politicians are levying substantial taxes without delivering quality public services. more ›

Yesterday, we mentioned efforts in Palatine, Barrington, and Hanover to secede from Cook County stemming from the increase in the sales tax. And yesterday all three towns voted in favor of the non-binding referendum calling for secession. Palatine had the most votes in favor, at around 73 percent; Barrington voted in favor at 65 percent; Hanover's support came in at 60 percent. There's a wrinkle for Palatine, however. Incumbent Mayor Rita Mullen was defeated by former Chicago Bears player - and current member of the Bears' radio team on WBBM - Jim Schwantz, a political rookie. Schwantz's campaign website doesn't address the secession issue, so it remains to be seen what effect his election will have on the issue. [ABC 7, WBBM] more ›

As voters in the Fifth Congressional District head to the polls today to decide who will finally and once and for all (or at least until 2010) replace Rahm Emanuel in congress, voters in Palatine, Barrington and Hanover townships will consider an advisory, non-binding vote on leaving Cook County. Anger over recent tax hikes is still very much an issue in the northwest suburb. The Northwest suburb started talking about leaving Cook County around this time last year, after the county sales tax increased the cost of retail purchases. For most Chicagoans, it's a fate they're largely forced to accept. But in Palatine, which borders Lake County, sales have dropped as people do their shopping across the county border. more ›

As promised, Todd Stroger finally met with Palatine residents Monday evening, and he did not get a warm welcome. In fact, Stroger was met with anger and derision by community members upset by the recent county tax hike. "I feel totally disenfranchised," Jeff Milstein, a jewelry store owner from Schaumburg, told Stroger. "I don't trust you guys." more ›

Citing "political grandstanding by village council members," Todd Stroger announced yesterday that he would not be attending a meeting tonight in Palatine, arranged by Mayor Rita Mullins, to discuss county services. It was also expected to touch on secession, a highly charged issue in the Chicago suburb. more ›

Cartoon for Chicagoist by Tim Daly more ›