The Civic Report

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin won’t challenge Todd Stroger for board president, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Suffredin, a Democrat, flirted with making a run for board president after Commissioner Forrest Claypool decided earlier this year that he wasn’t going to run.

Backstory: Back then, when Stroger was mired in scandals and the field was wide open, lots of candidates entertained the idea of running the show.

Context: Suffredin is also good pals with Toni Preckwinkle, who was the first candidate to announce she would go after the embattled Stroger.

Theory: Suffredin may have never seriously considered a run. He could have been a Trojan horse candidate for Preckwinkle to muddy the political waters and keep other challengers out.

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger

Political commentator Michael Sneed wrote Sunday she’s “hearing rumbles” that embattled Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is having some uncomfortable heart-to-hearts with Democratic leaders about running for re-election.

It sounds like his resolve may be failing.

Which isn’t all that surprising — this has not been Stroger’s year.

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Jeremy Rose, president of the Chicago Young Republicans

Jeremy Rose, president of the Chicago Young Republicans and campaign adviser to gubernatorial candidate Matt Murphy, gives his take on Lisa Madigan, Mark Kirk, Kirk Dillard and Alexi Giannoulias.

Rose offers an insider’s look at the jockeying and political calculations being made within the Illinois Republican Party and which office the party thinks it has the best shot at winning.

Hint: It rhymes with U.S. Tennant.

Listen:

Rose 1 Lisa Madigan’s big decision (4:22)

Rose 2 New faces and old faces in the party (3:48)

Rose 3 The governor’s race (4:34)

Rose 4 The importance of fund-raising (3:16)

Rose 5 Republicans and Chicago politics (4:34)

Rose 6 Looking ahead (2:47)