“I see Cook County as having four obligations.  Our government must keep the people safe, provide for a healthy community, tax and spend wisely, and meet a minimum standard of ethical decency.  These final two proposals, added with my other two previous proposals, explain how I will meet those obligations,” said Garrido.

The “Community and Corrections Initiative” will consolidate Forest Preserve police with the county sheriff, emphasize rehabilitation for non-violent offenders, move to legalize concealed carry laws for Cook County gun owners, and create an independent corrections board, among other reforms.

“All other candidates in this election propose status quo solutions to our County’s problems.  The only reform that my opponent proposes in this primary is to give GEDs to temporary detainees.  I commend him on his effort, but it’s just not enough to truly reform a corrupted system.  Giving inmates GEDs will not stem patronage corruption that has hampered the functioning of our system.”

The “Public Service Initiative” will expand the inspector general’s office, disclose all Shakman exempt hires, devolve authority to the Human Resources department, hire a full-time non-exempt compliance officer, and publish detailed investigation reports by the Office of Independent Inspector General, among other reforms.

“Once again, I’m the only one truly committed to reform.  Of all the candidates in this election, I am the only one that has detailed how deep my ethics reforms go, and why they are necessary.  We need systematic changes, which my proposals do, in addition to hiring more investigative personnel.  It’s time we prevent corruption instead of merely responding to it.”

Garrido has released four different initiatives during the primary campaign.  They deal with the health care network, the Cook County budget and taxes, the public safety system, and government ethics.  He has called the four his “Fresh Start Initiatives,” and emphasizes that he is the only Republican in this race to propose reforms aimed at truly bringing a fresh start to Cook County.

“Companies are cutting back their expenditures, and people are losing their jobs. It’s disgusting that during that same time, the government is raising their taxes and wasting that money. I intend to act more responsibly than the current administration and the other candidates,” said Garrido.

“I’m proposing a comprehensive reform plan that focuses on using two principles in budget and tax policy. The first is honesty. In order to produce an honest budget and honest taxes, I intend to do four things: pass a Taxpayer Bill of Rights that takes tax increases out of the hands of self-serving politicians, post the County’s check register online, hold open forum budget reviews, and meet clear performance baselines in budgeting.”

According to the Civic Federation, the FY2010 budget proposed by Todd Stroger increased operating appropriations by 4.5% over FY2009, and the FY2010 budget increases full-time employees by another 135.9 positions under Special Purposes Funds. Additionally, the county gave only nine working days for the public to review and comment on the proposed FY2010 budget.

Garrido highlighted the second principle of efficiency by proposing to immediately roll back the county sales tax to three-quarters percent, cap the property tax levy at $600 million, and reducing spending between ten to fifty percent among Cook County agencies.

“What we need is a comprehensive approach to reforming Cook County government. Unfortunately, it’s now time to take drastic steps in doing so, simply because the current administration has failed the people of Cook County. I’m not even sure the other candidates in this elections are in any way willing to make such proposals, which shows their lack of dedication to true reform,” said Garrido.

“I eagerly await the opportunity to help create a county which attracts businesses and jobs, instead of pushing them away. Our
communities in the county need real opportunity, and their government is consistently standing in the way. I’m dedicated to reforming Cook County, and my aggressive budget and tax reforms are evidence of that.”

###

For more information about John Garrido or his campaign to bring a fresh start to Cook County, please contact Robert Lee by cellular phone at (815) 347-0294, by email at media@garrido2010.com, or by visiting http://www.garrido2010.com.