From "No Games" To "No Toddler": Tresser Eyes Stroger's Seat

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Oct 17, 2009 4:15PM

A new wrinkle has developed in the race for Cook County Board President as Tom Tresser, the man behind the No Games Chicago group that opposed the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid, has announced his candidacy. The group "Friends of Tom Tresser" sent out an email to supporters yesterday indicating Tresser intended to announce this morning a run "for high local public office." It's since been learned that the office is Todd Stroger's. Said Tresser in the email, "I do this as a result of almost thirty years of civic work in the city and, most specifically, my last two years of volunteer community work." The email continues:

After No Games Chicago achieved its goal, they asked the question: "What now?" They invited people to take a brief survey to share their thoughts. On the question of "What role should a group like No Games Chicago play in Chicago's civic life going forward?" - 32% said "Recruit, prepare and support candidates for public office" and 33% said "Work with neighborhoods to help secure political power." 59% said "Serve a watchdog group to keep public officials honest and accountable."

"When I saw these results and reflected on the sum total of my civic work in Chicago, I realized that the best thing I could do to remedy the problems that had caused me to be so active all these years was to seek local elective office in 2010," says Tresser.

It's been an active week already in the race for Cook County Board President as incumbent Todd Stroger garnered an important endorsement from a group of black ministers who are worried about the three black candidates - Stroger, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, and Ald. Tony Preckwinkle - splitting the vote and paving the way to victory for the previously lone white candidate, MWRD President Terrence O'Brien.

We've spoken to Tresser twice on the Podcast: check out those previous interviews here and here.