Claypool-Stroger race follow-up

A brief follow-up on yesterday's post -- Forrest Claypool conceded the Cook County Board of Commissioners president race to John Stroger yesterday afternoon when it became clear that, even with many ballots still uncounted, there was no way that Claypool could win.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Claypool acknowledged the strength of the south and westside black vote in re-electing Stroger, even though it is unlikely that Stroger, bedridden with a stroke and with possible paralysis and brain damage, will be able to actually continue to serve as board president. Per the Sun-Times, "If Stroger can't make it, the county's 80 Democratic committeemen will pick the new nominee. And it is those ward bosses, Claypool said, who led Stroger to victory."

In another wrinkle on Chicago machine politics, according to the Sun-Times:

Should Stroger be unable to run the $3 billion county government through 2010, it is expected that a candidate from Chicago's African-American community would be selected to fill his spot... Mayor Daley and other elected officials are expected to press for a black candidate so as not to antagonize black voters before next year's mayoral primary.

jd