About the Candidate
Name: Tony Peraica
DOB: 1957
Occupation: Attorney
Political Experience: Cook County Commissioner 2002-2010; Lyons Township committeeman; candidate for County Treasurer, State’s Attorney and County Board President; school board member.
Website: www.peraica.com
Twitter: @tonyperaica
Facebook: facebook.com/tonyperaica
Candidate Statement
My name is Tony Peraica. I'm running for the Office of Cook County Clerk. I've been a practicing attorney in the County of Cook for the last 40 years. I’ve been a member of the County Board of Commissioners for two terms and have run for Cook County state's attorney, as well as County board president in the past.
I am extremely familiar with the county budget, in particular related to the Office of Cook County Clerk. This is an office that has 300 employees, approximately, with an annual budget of about $300 million. It is responsible for very important functions, namely administration of elections in the Suburban Cook County area, registration of all the real estate records, deeds, mortgages and such, as well as issuance of the documents for marriages, births and deaths.
And the office has been run inefficiently by the current occupant, Ms. Yarbrough. The office has numerous lawsuits in federal and state courts by current and former employees for ation in hiring, firing and promotion. In addition, Michael Shakman is suing the office and Ms. Yarbrough for violations of the Shakman Consent Decree in terms of, again, using politics to administer the office from day to day.
The office is not serving the residents of Cook County because it is inefficient. It is not up to snuff with current technology. It is behind in issuing the real estate tax bills. It is providing poor service so that anyone who has to do a simple thing like get a death certificate or a marriage certificate has to wait in lines or hire people, “expediters,” and pay them hundreds of dollars to get those documents.
Previous occupants of this office did not have those problems, and I will make sure that these problems are corrected. I'm humbly asking for your vote in the upcoming general election.
Again, please vote Tony Peraica for Cook County Clerk. Thank you very much.
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
To improve quality of service to residents, lower cost of operation, remove politics from the administration of office, comply with Shakman consent decree.
What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?
The county clerk office must remove political considerations from personnel matters, improve customer service, and lower the cost of operation. Greater automation is essential. Waiting in long lines to record documentation, obtain certified records or documentation needs immediate fixes.
What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
Corruption due to one party control, resulting high taxes and exorbitant cost of government that is hostile to constituents.
What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?
Open door policy, more effective online presence for constituent services, elimination of political considerations in hiring.
