West suburban Metra candidates face off before Cook County commissioners

Want a west-suburban seat on the Metra board?

Two Cook County commissioners are inviting candidates to give three-minute presentations to west suburban commissioners on Oct. 1. Afterwards, candidates may be hit with questions.

Up for grabs is the seat of former Metra Chair Brad O’Halloran, who resigned after former Metra CEO Alex Clifford went public with charges that O’Halloran and another Metra board member tried to foist patronage and contracts on him. O’Halloran has called the allegations “a whole lot of hooey.”

The west suburban process follows complaints from two DuPage County candidates that they were not considered for the DuPage Metra seat.

The selection hearing for candidates who have submitted resumes was announced by Cook County Commissioners Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Jeff Tobolski.

For more details on the hearings, to be held in Room 369 of the Cook County Building, see the news release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 18, 2013

CONTACT

17th District Office

312-603-4215

Commissioners call meeting for West Suburban Metra District #3 to deliberate on Metra Board Vacancy

Chicago, IL – Cook County Commissioners Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Jeff Tobolski have called a meeting to deliberate on the board vacancy for West Suburban Metra District #3. The seven Cook County Commissioners who represent Metra District #3 will hear from prospective candidates who have submitted resumes for consideration.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 1:30PM in the Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 569 in Chicago. All candidates wishing to present his/her credentials are invited to attend this meeting and will be given 3 minutes for his/her presentation followed by questions from the Commissioners.

The appointment process for West Suburban Metra District #3 is by weighted vote and includes Commissioners Tobolski (39.5%), Gorman (36.04%), Collins (11.74%), Murphy (5.53%), Daley (4.56%), Garcia (2.53%) and Silvestri (0.10%). The geographic composition of the district includes the townships of Berwyn, Cicero, Lemont, Lyons, Orland, Palos, Proviso and Stickney.

The selected candidate will serve out the remainder of the board term which will expire on June 30, 2015. The 11-member Metra Board of Directors made up of members representing the six-county Chicago metropolitan area, generally meets once a month to discuss various matters including Capital Oversight, Audit & Finance, Real Estate & Contract Management and Employment Practices.

“I’m pleased with the resumes we have received to date so I’m quite confident through this open process we will come away with a fine candidate to serve on the Metra board,” stated Commissioner Gorman.

“Our main goal is to restore public confidence in Metra and to make sure that there is both accountability and reliability on the Metra Board of Directors,” said Commissioner Tobolski.

The Commissioners intend to have a replacement selected and in place for the next Metra Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2013.

Members of the public wishing to be considered for the appointment, please contact Commissioner Tobolski’s office at 312-603-4735 and kevin.fanning@cookcountyil.gov; or Commissioner Gorman’s office at 312-603-4215 and peg@lizgorman.com.

Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Republican from Orland Park, represents Cook County’s suburban 17th District. She has been a strong advocate for tax reform, fiscal responsibility, and budget and operational efficiencies. Commissioner Gorman has also worked hard for greater transparency throughout Cook County government and for making the Forest Preserve District a national leader in the areas of recreation, restoration and conservation.