Hon. Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has been a dedicated community leader for over two decades. Through collaboration and commitment, President Preckwinkle has worked with the County Board, our elected official and county employees to implement major reform and reshape county government into a world-class institution based on the foundation of fiscal responsibility, innovative leadership, transparency & accountability, and improved services. Over the past three years, President Preckwinkle has built the credibility of County government. She eliminated the 1% sales tax of her predecessor, saving County residents $1.1 billion. Since taking office, she has cut $430 million in expenditures, passed four budgets and established a more transparent budget process. She has established the County’s first performance management initiative to demand more accountability from County operations and employees. President Preckwinkle has developed a robust policy agenda – focusing on critical public safety reform, working to strengthen our health care system and increasing the capacity and capability of our economic development efforts. Before being elected Cook County Board President, Preckwinkle served 19 years as Alderman of the 4th Ward. During her tenure she successfully fought for greater funding for education and affordable housing in her ward, sponsored the Living Wage and Affordable Housing Ordinances. Her independent and progressive leadership earned her the IVI-IPO Best Alderman Award six times as well as two Leon Despres Awards. Prior to holding elected office, President Preckwinkle taught high school history for ten years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from the University of Chicago.