Sunday, November 03, 2002
Special to suffredin.org

A year ago, I decided to run for this office because I had a vision of a more accountable and efficient County Board.   I’m thrilled that tonight I’ve earned the opportunity to begin working to realize that vision.  

Sixteen other commissioners including at least five non-incumbents were elected to the County Board along with me today.  I'm optimistic that we will improve the many services Cook County government provides its citizens.  I believe President John Stroger and Finance Committee Chairman Daley are eager to provide strong leadership in this pursuit, and I welcome the opportunity to begin working with them.  Throughout my professional life, I've seen how innovative ideas supported by strong advocacy can accomplish constructive change.  I know it can be done in our county government.

I intend to serve as a visible and vocal advocate for my entire district and ensure that all county services are available to every 13th District resident.

As an attorney, I've been successful in attaining many goals for clients.  As a county commissioner, my goal is to use my knowledge and experience to help build the consensus needed to enact new effective policy. 

To enact the change we all want to see in County government, we need to develop a comprehensive plan and act with a strong sense of urgency in several key areas.  We have to immediately bring about widespread improvement in the financial and operations management of our forest preserves, ensure that quality health care is truly accessible throughout the County, guarantee fairness and efficiency in our court system, and bring greater equity to our real estate tax process.  

I have organized advisory task forces addressing these four areas; Forest Preserves, Health Care Reform, Court Reform, and Tax Reform, that will help me to achieve our common goals.  The task forces, comprised of local leaders, experts and community activists, are assisting me in developing a needed plan of action and fostering its achievability.  The task forces also are a testament to perhaps the greatest resource available to the County Board, citizen involvement.  If we're going to bring about vast improvements in areas such as our forest preserves, we're going to have to employ the knowledge and ability of our citizens in a greater capacity than the Board has done to date. 

In the near future, I will be announcing the formation of a transition team to advise me as I take office.  I will appoint a strong and diverse group of leadership to this team that will allow me to hit the ground running when I take office.

Through creativity and dedication, innovative policy and reform, we can improve County government.  December 2nd, the day we newly elected board members will be sworn in, can be the dawn of a new era of effective leadership in County government.  I can't wait to get to work.

-Larry Suffredin