Observing Cook County Government

Monitoring local government meetings is a long-established practice of the League of Women Voters.  It is one approach to help inform citizens about current issues and their governments.   Members volunteer to attend or watch a meeting and share what they observed in a written report.

Advocacy and Testimony

League members write letters, provide testimony at agency meetings and take other actions in support of LWVCC positions

Current Issues

Salaries of Cook County Elected Officials: LWVCC  encourages you to contact your Commissioner to urge that they vote “yes” for Item 22-3931 at the Finance Committee on September 21 and Board meeting the next day. Item 22-3931 calls for an independent review of salaries of comparable county officials to be presented to the Commissioners by the end of the 2nd full year of their 4-year terms. Any action to adjust any salaries is to be taken by the end of the following March – to be effective at the start of the next 4-year term. This provides a vehicle for review by the Commissioners and the public of whether the salaries (with those cost-of-living increases) are appropriate, or whether adjustments should be made. Also, this will give potential candidates for those offices sufficient prior notice of what the salaries will be.

Filling Vacancies in County Elected Positions:  LWVCC encourages you to contact your Commissioner to urge that they vote “yes” for Items 22-4661 (pertaining to Commissioner positions) and 22-4662 (pertaining to other County elected positions) at the Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, expected in September, and then the following Board meeting. Currently, when vacancies occur, the person appointed will serve out the remaining term no matter how long that is. This has resulted in appointed officials serving up to 4 years without the voters having a say. This proposed change to provide for an election when the remaining term is more than 28 months is consistent with what current State law provides for vacancies in State Senate seats and with what a current Cook County ordinance provides for a vacancy in the position of Cook County President.  The League itself proposed this change to Commissioners.  

Make Your Voice Heard

 Let your elected officials know what's on your mind.   Find contact information for your Cook County Commissioner, Cook County Elected Officials, and MWRD Officials in our Cook County Government pages. 
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