Friday, January 24, 2003
Special to suffredin.org

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin kicked off his Transition Team this week, working with a committee of community leaders to initiate reform in Cook County government.

The Transition Team is chaired by Christopher G. Kennedy, and is co-chaired by Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton, Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, Glencoe Village President Anthony Ruzicka, Jr. and Chicago's 50th Ward Alderman Bernard Stone.

Also serving on the Transition Team leadership are the chairs of Suffredin's four task forces. They include Jane Balaban, Forest Preserve Task Force Chair; Pradeep Roy-Singh, Court Reform Task Force Chair; Catherine Counard, Community Health Task Force Chair; and Evanston Alderman Ann Rainey, Tax and Revenue Reform Task Force Chair.

The Transition Team is establishing priorities for Suffredin's first year in office. The priorities will focus on the 13th District as well as ideas that will effect Cook County government overall. Among the priorities established for Suffredin's first year are increasing the availability of health care in the district, strengthening land management practices in the forest preserves and making Cook County more responsive to constituents.

"The members of my Transition Team bring ideas with them collected from all parts of the district and from first-hand involvement with all facets of Cook County government. With their insight and guidance, I will be better positioned to bring a fresh approach to County government, " said Suffredin. "I hope to make the people throughout the district aware of the services that Cook County can and should provide."

The Transition Team plans to reach out to other community leaders and people with expertise in the district for their input. The group will reconvene in mid March. After the group has met, they will prepare a public report that sets out their priorities.

Larry Suffredin was elected to the position of Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District in November 2002 and took office in December 2002. Suffredin is Chairman of the Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which is charged with recommending county positions on state and federal legislation, tracking state and federal funds earmarked for the county and reviewing appointments to county boards and commissions. He resides in Evanston with his family.