Tom Tresser, No Games Chicago Founder, Plans Cook County Board President Run

The man who helped thwart President Obama, Mayor Daley and the rest of Chicago's powerful Olympics proponents is setting his sights on a potentially tougher challenge.

Tom Tresser, one of the founders of No Games Chicago, which galvanized local opposition to the 2016 Olympic bid, sent a coy press release trumpeting his plans to run "for a major local office." Though Tresser will formally announce the office he's seeking Saturday, Crain's political columnist Greg Hinz got the answer Friday: Cook County Board President.

Tresser told Hinz he's already raised $1,000 toward his run and sees an opening with a crowded Democratic primary field and the embattled incumbent, Todd Stroger, failing to win his party's endorsement for re-election.

"Isn't it time to have a truly independent government that provides value for your value?" Tresser said.

Tresser, 57, is an instructor at DePaul University with a long history of local activism (read his first-person accounts of the No Games Chicago efforts on his Huffington Post blogs).

Comments

[REGONE]

I would think he has a better chance at being mayor of Chicago; I wish Daley would go away and retire to Florida and take his cronies with him to serve him tea under the shade trees. Chicago could be a much better city if someone would invest in a first class public education system, modern transit and better neighborhoods. This must be too hard, go figure right?

[Joe001]

Not too hard to figure out; just very, very expensive at a time when tax revenues are way down due to the recession. Governments across the nation are forced to tighten their belts.

[scorpioleidy]

I wish Forrest Claypool would run again.

I'd vote for anybody instead of Urkel - I mean Stroger - but not this guy. I didn't want the games here, either, so I'm happy Chicago didn't win. I've never even heard of this guy before today. He only has $1,000 so far? He could get that walking up & down Michigan Avenue. That might buy one or two :30 radio spots - maybe.

[BVictor1]

I think it's funny that they article tries to portray this guy asone of the reasons why Chicago didn't land 2016. That dubious distinction has nothing to do with him. He was pretty much just a pebble in the shoe.

Stick to teaching Tom.

[BVictor1]

There are many more qualified people than this obstructionist.

[TMc73]

Such as???

The problem with Cook County politics is Cook County career politicians and the blind faith following of the electorate to back up machine politicians based exclusively on party affiliation.

So my question to you is this:

What beef do you have against Tom Tresser? Why shouldn't he run in the primary if he feels that he could make a difference? Is that not what democracy is all about?

[Joe001]

He has every right to run and I hope he does and spends lots of money and gets 2% of the vote. As a lifelong Cook County resident, I would vote for Stroger (whom I don't admire) before I'd vote for Tresser, whose short-sighted opposition to the Olympics cost Chicagoans thousands of desperately needed jobs.

[BVictor1]

Such as 4th Ward alderwoman Toni Preckwinkle.

I didn't say he shouldn't run, I said that there are more qualified people and that he should stick to teaching. He can run if he wants,

My beef is the lies, ignorance and fears that nogames perpuated.

[BushBites]

He's already raised $1,000?

is that a typo?

[47th]

I would vote for him too.

[BVictor1]

Just because he was a no games jerk? Figures.

[47th]

The Olymp9ics are not coming to Chicago, Victor! Quit your whining!

[mjb5406]

Chicago lost... they did not deserve the games. Too much political cronyism and corruption which you obviously condone. Someone outside of the Machine would be welcome.

[Joe001]

That's reason enough to oppose him.

[ejhickey]

he has my vote