TWO FIRSTS FOR TONI
Preckwinkle makes history as 1st woman and 1st African- American to lead Cook County Dems
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle solidified her place in the political power structure — and the history books — on Wednesday, when the party backed her to become the first African- American, and first woman, to take the once mighty seat of power as Cook County Democratic chairman.
A majority of the 80 city ward and suburban township committeemen who make up the Cook County Democratic Party filed into a conference room, complete with foosball and pingpong tables, on Wednesday to coronate their new leader.
One of Preckwinkle’s opponents for the top party post, 47th Ward Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld, conceded to Preckwinkle and nominated her instead. Her other challenger, state Rep. Luis Arroyo Sr., gave a statement via his son wherein he called for a more progressive party and withdrew from the race.
The political bosses quickly gave Preckwinkle the vote. And then they gave her a standing ovation.
“I’m proud to be a Democrat,” Preckwinkle said, accepting the post. “All my life, the Democratic Party has been the party of work- ing families.”
She told the committeemen that she caught the political bug when she was 16, growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota. Now, 50 years later, it was time for the party to “turn awareness into engagement” by incorporating movements such as Black Lives Matter and March For Our Lives into the fold of the county’s Democratic Party and presenting itself as the modern way forward.
The County Board president and 4th Ward committeeman was already an executive vice chairman under her predecessor, Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios. Berrios surrendered the party reins after losing his own re- election bid for his county office in March.
Preckwinkle elevated 39- yearold Michael Rodriguez, who became the 22nd Ward committeeman two years ago, into her old No. 2 spot.
Other changes include Thornton Township committeeman Frank Zuccarelli filling the late Tim Bradford’s vacancy as first vice chairman, 30th Ward Alderman and committeeman Ariel Reboyras replacing 12th Ward committeeman and state Sen. Tony Munoz as treasurer, and Maine Township committeeman and state Sen. Laura Murphy becoming the new secretary.