# 1994 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

The 1994 Cook County Board of Commissioners election was held on November 9, 1994. It was preceded by a primary election held on March 15, 1994. It coincided with other 1994 Cook County, Illinois, elections (including the election for president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners). It saw all seventeen seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms.
This was the first election for the Cook County Board of Commissioners conducted with individual districts, as previous elections had been conducted through two sets of at-large elections (one for ten seats from the city of Chicago and another for seven seats from suburban Cook County).
Six of those elected were new to the Cook County Board of Commissioners, though the number of seats that each party held remained unchanged.

## Background and overview

This was the first election for the Cook County Board of Commissioners that had members elected from single-member districts. Previous elections had been conducted through two sets of at-large elections (one for ten seats from the city of Chicago and another for seven seats from suburban Cook County).
Ninety candidates filed run ahead of the primaries. Six of those that won election were new to the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The number of seats that each party won remained unchanged.

## 1st district

Danny K. Davis, an incumbent Democrat who had served a single term as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, was elected to the 1st district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Davis faced no opponents in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Danny K. Davis (redistricted incumbent) | 32,505 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,505 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican Party primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | Gwendolyn Stanford-Jones | 362 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 362 | 100 |

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 1st district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Danny K. Davis (redistricted incumbent) | 42,530 | |
| | Harold Washington | Gwendolyn Stanford-Jones | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 2nd district

Bobbie L. Steele, an incumbent Democrat who had served two-terms as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, was elected to the 2nd district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bobbie L. Steele (redistricted incumbent) | 20,954 | 69.78 |
| | Democratic | James C. Taylor | 9,075 | 30.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 30,029 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | David Whitehead | 272 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 272 | 100 |

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 2nd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bobbie L. Steele (redistricted incumbent) | 41,541 | |
| | Harold Washington | David Whitehead | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 3rd district

Jerry Butler, an incumbent Democrat who had served as a commissioner from Chicago at-large for two terms, was elected to the 3rd district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jerry "Iceman" Butler (redistricted incumbent) | 44,085 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 44,085 | 100 |

#### Republican

The Republican primary was won by Clara Simms-Johnson, a child protective investigator for the Department of Children and Family Services, who ran unopposed.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Clara Simms-Johnson | 1,492 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,492 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Democratic | Jerry "Iceman" Butler (redistricted incumbent) | |
| | Republican | Clara Simms-Johnson | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 4th district

John Stroger, an incumbent Democrat who had served six terms as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, was elected to the 4th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John H. Stroger, Jr. (redistricted incumbent) | 59,209 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 59,209 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

The Harold Washington Party primary was won by Bruce Crosby, a community activist.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | Bruce Crosby | 502 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 502 | 100 |

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Democratic | John H. Stroger, Jr. (redistricted incumbent) | |
| | Harold Washington | Bruce Crosby | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 5th district

Deborah Sims, a Democrat, was elected to the 5th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Deborah Sims defeated Governors State University political science professor Robert Donaldson in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Deborah Sims | 22,959 | 63.70 |
| | Democratic | Robert B. Donaldson | 13,083 | 36.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,042 | 100 |

#### Republican

Lawrence Ragland, an accountant, won the Republican primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lawrence M. Ragland, Jr. | 2,214 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,214 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

Cook County Board of Commissioners 5th district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | Elliott M. Fourte | 509 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 509 | 100 |

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 4th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Democratic | Deborah Sims | |
| | Republican | Lawrence Ragland | |
| | Harold Washington | Elliott Fourte | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 6th district

Barclay "Bud" Fleming, a Republican, was elected to the 6th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Worth Township supervisor Joan Patricia Murphy won the Democratic primary. Joan Patricia Murphy had defeated state senator Richard F. Kelly in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joan Patricia Murphy | 10,713 | 56.21 |
| | Democratic | Richard F. Kelly, Jr. | 8,347 | 43.79 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,060 | 100 |

#### Republican

Barclay "Bud" Fleming, an engineer who was the village president of Lynwood, won the Republican primary, defeating lawyer Helen Elizabeth Kelly as well as lawyer and East Hazel Crest village president Thomas Brown in the Republican primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barclay "Bud" Fleming | 6,373 | 52.55 |
| | Republican | Helen Elizabeth Kelley | 3,265 | 26.92 |
| | Republican | Thomas A. Brown | 7,309 | 20.53 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,947 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | Ronald Doyle | 509 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 509 | 100 |

### General election

The district was regarded as a potential "swing district", with both major parties seeing a potential for victory in its election.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 6th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Republican | Barclay "Bud" Fleming | |
| | Democratic | Joan Patricia Murphy | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 7th district

Joseph Mario Moreno, a Democrat, was elected to the 7th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Cook County Board of Commissioners 7th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Mario Moreno | 8,550 | 38.06 |
| | Democratic | Diane Rincon Carli | 6,604 | 28.62 |
| | Democratic | Gary Baranowski | 4,459 | 19.33 |
| | Democratic | August Sallas | 1,936 | 8.39 |
| | Democratic | Gilbert G. Jimenez | 950 | 4.12 |
| | Democratic | Ronald J. "Jesus" Moraza | 572 | 2.48 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,071 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 7th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joseph Mario Moreno | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 8th district

Roberto Maldonado, a Democrat, was elected to the 8th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Cook County Board of Commissioners 8th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Roberto Maldonado | 10,632 | 44.38 |
| | Democratic | Marcial L. Torres | 5,938 | 24.79 |
| | Democratic | Judith Klipowicz-Bush | 2,336 | 9.75 |
| | Democratic | Philip G. Greco | 2,228 | 9.30 |
| | Democratic | Margaret Cerda-Bradley | 2,137 | 8.92 |
| | Democratic | Randy Scott Dienethal | 686 | 2.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,957 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 8th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Roberto Maldonado | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 9th district

Peter N. Silvestri, a Republican, was elected to the 9th district.
Domico had beaten five other candidates in the Democratic primary.
Silvestri faced no opponents in the Republican primary.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Marco Domico, who had served two terms as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, won the Democratic primary over seven opponents.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Marco Domico (redistricted incumbent) | 11,614 | 27.22 |
| | Democratic | Joan A. Sullivan | 8,928 | 20.92 |
| | Democratic | Daniel E. (Dan) Burke | 7,596 | 17.80 |
| | Democratic | Patricia Ann Kuta | 6,677 | 15.65 |
| | Democratic | Ray Willas | 3,647 | 8.55 |
| | Democratic | Kevin J. McCarthy | 3,549 | 8.32 |
| | Democratic | John Lawson | 660 | 1.55 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 42,671 | 100 |

#### Republican

Elmwood Park village president Peter N. Silvestri won the Republican primary, running unopposed.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peter N. Silvestri | 7,827 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,827 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

This district had been regarded as a "swing district", with both major parties being seen as having a chance of winning it.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 9th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Republican | Peter N. Silvestri | |
| | Democratic | Marco Domico (redistricted incumbent) | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 10th district

Maria Pappas, an incumbent Democrat who had served a single term as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, was elected to the 10th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Pappas defeated three opponents to win the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Maria Pappas (redistricted incumbent) | 24,029 | 61.31 |
| | Democratic | Bill O'Donaghue | 8,922 | 22.76 |
| | Democratic | James Patton | 4,367 | 11.14 |
| | Democratic | Peter Miller | 1,875 | 4.78 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,193 | 100 |

#### Republican

Republican Party nominee John McNeal, an attorney and 48th Ward Republican committeeman, won the Republican primary, running unopposed.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John E. McNeal | 2,868 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,868 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district Harold Washington Party primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Harold Washington | Willie D. Adams | 146 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 146 | 100 |

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 10th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Democratic | Maria Pappas (redistricted incumbent) | |
| | Republican | John E. McNeal | |
| | Harold Washington | Willie D. Adams | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 11th district

John P. Daley, an incumbent Democrat that had been appointed a commissioner from Chicago at-large in 1992, was elected to the 11th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

John P. Daley defeated communications consultant Dennis Baker in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John P. Daley (redistricted incumbent) | 56,083 | 85.26 |
| | Democratic | Dennis Baker | 9,694 | 14.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,777 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 11th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | John P. Daley (redistricted incumbent) | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 12th district

Ted Lechowicz, an incumbent Democrat who had served two terms as a commissioner from Chicago at-large, was elected to the 12th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Ted Lechowicz defeated two opponents in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 12th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz (redistricted incumbent) | 28,625 | 71.53 |
| | Democratic | Richard T. Bradley | 7,311 | 18.27 |
| | Democratic | Amie Antero Parisi | 4,083 | 10.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,019 | 100 |

#### Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary.

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 12th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz (redistricted incumbent) | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 13th district

Calvin Sutker, a Democrat, was elected to the 13th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Former state representative Calvin Sutker defeated two opponents in the Democratic primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 13th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Calvin R. Sutker | 16,692 | 51.95 |
| | Democratic | Jeff Smith | 9,875 | 30.73 |
| | Democratic | Vera Tikva Paktor | 5,565 | 17.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,132 | 100 |

#### Republican

Lourdes Gagui Mon, an educator, won Republican primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 13th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lourdes Gagui Mon | 6,070 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,070 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 13th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Democratic | Calvin R. Sutker | |
| | Republican | Lourdes Gagui Mon | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 14th district

Richard Siebel, an incumbent Republican who had served several terms as a commissioner from suburban Cook County at-large, was elected to the 14th district. He defeated Democratic nominee Kelly Ann Sheehan.
In the Republican primary, Siebel defeated Palatine village president Rita Mullins.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

No candidates ran in the Democratic primary. The Democratic Party ultimately nominated Kelly Ann Sheehan.

#### Republican

Cook County Board of Commissioners 14th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard A. Siebel (redistricted incumbent) | 11,258 | 56.34 |
| | Republican | Rita L. Mullins | 8,723 | 43.66 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,992 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 14th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Richard A. Siebel (redistricted incumbent) | 49,280 | 66.08 |
| | Democratic | Kelly Ann Sheehan | 25,302 | 33.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,582 | 100 |

## 15th district

Carl R. Hansen, an incumbent Republican who had served five terms as a commissioner from suburban Cook County at-large, was elected to the 15th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

No candidates ran in the Democratic primary.

#### Republican

Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carl R. Hansen (redistricted incumbent) | 10,153 | 67.72 |
| | Republican | Kenneth D. Dubinski | 4,839 | 32.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,992 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 15th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carl R. Hansen (redistricted incumbent) | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | | 100 |

## 16th district

Allan C. Carr, an incumbent Republican who had served as a commissioner from suburban Cook County at-large.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

Attorney Tony Peraica won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Anthony J. Peraica | 11,935 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,935 | 100 |

#### Republican

Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Allan C. Carr (redistricted incumbent) | 15,839 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,839 | 100 |

#### Harold Washington Party

No candidates ran in the Harold Washington Party primary.

### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 16th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | % |
| | Republican | Allan C. Carr (redistricted incumbent) | |
| | Democratic | Anthony J. Peraica | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 100 |

## 17th district

Herb Schumann, an incumbent Republican who had served two terms as a commissioner from suburban Cook County at-large, was elected to the 17th district.

### Primaries
#### Democratic

William Hurley, an insurance agent, won the Democratic primary, running unopposed.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | William M. Hurley | 5,057 | 100 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,057 | 100 |

#### Republican

Herb Schumann defeated lawyer Teressa Nuccio in the Republican primary.
Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Herbert T. Schumann, Jr. (redistricted incumbent) | 9,069 | 65.53 |
| | Republican | Teresa Nuccio | 4,770 | 34.47 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,839 | 100 |

#### General election

Cook County Board of Commissioners 17th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Herbert T. Schumann, Jr. (redistricted incumbent) | 54,502 | 65.85 |
| | Democratic | William M. Hurley | 28,267 | 34.15 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,769 | 100 |