Stroger Disses the 'Burbs

By Kevin Robinson in News on May 13, 2008 1:00PM

Todd Stroger's picks to head the new independent county hospital board have been controversial - with critics complaining that they are too closely tied to local Democrats or vested interests in the county health care system. That controversy may get more heated.

Six of the nine candidates he's picked are from Chicago, all but denying county suburbs a voice on the board. And one of the candidates lives in Naperville, which straddles two counties, neither of which is Cook. "It's about their talents, experiences and backgrounds," Stroger spokesman Gene Mullins told the Sun-Times. "He didn't know where they were from, and he didn't care. He looked around the country at how hospital boards are chosen and knew we needed a diverse group based on their backgrounds, not their geography, and who represent all parts of life." County Commissioner Liz Gorman, an Orland Park Republican doesn't see it that way. "Who's going to be the watchdog for suburban interests?" she said. "It's frustrating because this just lends credence to people talking about seceding."

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