Attorney Kummer hopes to beat longtime
Commissioner Steele

By Jennifer Geiger

The race is on for the post of 2nd District Cook County Commissioner. On Nov. 7, residents of the 2nd, a jigsaw-like district made up of South Loop, South Side, and West Side neighborhoods, will find they have a choice at the polls: long-time Democratic incumbent Bobbie Steele or her Republican opponent, Scott Kummer, attorney and county government newcomer.

 

Bobbie Steele has held the position of 2nd District Commissioner for 20 years and recently assumed the post of Interim Cook County Board President in the wake of former President John Stroger’s stroke last July. Steele has been in the news frequently defending the county’s tarnished image after the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s hiring probe raid of County offices and reports of alleged corruption at Cook Countyoperated medical facilities. Once a new County Board President is elected she will hand over the Presidency in December to either 8th Ward Alderman Todd Stroger or 16th District Cook County Commissioner Anthony Peraica.

Steele, a native of Cleveland, Mississippi, and mother of seven, was a teacher and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools System for 20 years before she was elected 2nd District Commissioner. Steele considers her role in shaping County healthcare as one of her most important accomplishments as Commissioner.

“I am pleased with what I have tried to contribute in healthcare,” she said. “The concept of promoting women to leadership roles was a welcoming experience. I am pleased to report that many of our department heads are women. I believe I have had some influence for that happening.”

In the future, Steele would like to continue her focus on County healthcare, specifically providing preventive healthcare to those who cannot afford it.

“We are responsible for healthcare for indigents,” Steele explained. “I believe that if we got more involved with promoting preventive healthcare and public safety we would have more of an impact on the community.”

Challenger Scott Kummer, a South Loop resident and member of the Cook County Republicans, hopes to bring more of a Republican voice to a predominantly Democratic County government.

“There haven’t been a lot of Republicans on the ballot for these races and I think it’s a good idea to get Republicans out there voting,”  Kummer said.

A native of West Allis, WI, Kummer received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1996. He came to Chicago and earned a law degree from DePaul University in 2000. 

 

Three critical factors he believes are missing from Cook County government are integrity, independence, and efficiency.

“Is there a more efficient, better way to get things done?” Kummer asked. “I think most officials are too worried about keeping jobs and staying in power. I want to focus on saving people money by bringing more efficiency to county government. I will help change the board today and for tomorrow so that Commis-sioners are accountable, accessible, and independent.” He believes that, despite being new to Chicago politics, he can deliver what he thinks is a much needed shake-up at the office of 2nd District Commissioner. “I’m not a Stroger, a Jesse Jackson, or a Daley,” Kummer said. “I’m just a guy who wants to get involved in politics and find a more efficient way to get things done.”