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A showdown between Cook County commissioners and Board President Todd Stroger is likely this week. Commissioners want to override a Stroger veto of a hiring freeze.

Commissioners pushed the hiring freeze after news reports that Stroger made several hires since losing his re-election bid in the February primary. Some of those positions dish out six-figure salaries.

Commissioner Larry Suffredin says the freeze means Stroger could make hires only with board approval.

SUFFREDIN: You try and you hope that executives use their power wisely, but when they don't, you've got to take action.

Sixteen commissioners voted in favor of the hiring freeze at the last board meeting, but only 11 have signed on to override Stroger's veto.

The board president says he might challenge the ordinance in court. He says under a freeze, the county would have to turn to independent contractors to get work done.

The hiring freeze is scheduled to expire at the end of November, just before a new board president would take over.