Politics & Government

Better Government Association Suing Cook County for Denying FOIA Request

The organization claims President Toni Preckwinkle's office refused to divulge information on dozens of her appointments to various county positions.

The Better Government Association (BGA) is suing President Toni Preckwinkle’s Cook County government for denying a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in January, according to the BGA.

The BGA’s denied FOIA request asked for names and addresses of dozens of Cook County board members and commissioners appointed by Preckwinkle. Her office refused to respond after filing for an extension because disclosure of the information “would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” according to the BGA. Preckwinkle’s office did not respond to multiple attempts seeking explanation for the refusal.

“It’s clear this information doesn’t belong to the County Board president – it belongs to the public, and she should turn it over,” BGA President and CEO Andy Shaw said. “Toni Preckwinkle portrays herself as a reformer, and she’s promised to provide an open and transparent county government. But in this case she’s fallen way short of her own self-proclaimed standard.”

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Preckwinkle appoints over 50 people to various boards and commissions that deal with tax money, and some come with pay and benefits. The BGA alleges the “sometimes political –and secretive – nature” of some of her roughly 140 appointments made since taking office in 2010.

More information is available on the BGA’s legal action webpage.

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