2006 Cook County, Illinois, elections

2006 Cook County, Illinois, elections

←  2004 November 7, 2006 2008  →
Turnout	49.85%

The Cook County, Illinois, general election was held on November 7, 2006. ^[1]

Primaries were held March 21, 2006. ^{[2] [3]}

Elections were held for Assessor, Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Cook County Board of Review districts 1 and 2, three seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, judgeships in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Election information

2006 was a midterm election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for congressional and those for state elections.

Voter turnout

Primary election

Voter turnout in Cook County during the primaries was 28.44%, with 762,273 ballots cast. The city of Chicago saw 32.05% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 26.70% turnout. ^{[4] [5]}

Vote totals of primaries ^{[2] [3]}

Primary	Chicago vote totals	Suburban Cook County vote totals	Total Cook County vote totals
Democratic	390,891	228,418	619,309
Republican	24,599	113,583	138,182
Green	0	8	8
Libertarian	6	9	15
Honesty & Integrity	0	6	6
Nonpartisan	807	4,753	5,560
Total	416,303	346,777	763,080

General election

The general election saw 49.85% turnout, with 1,350,918 ballots cast. The city of Chicago saw 49.25% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 50.45% turnout. ^{[1] [6] [7]}

Assessor

2006 Cook County Assessor election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
Turnout	46.37% [1] [8] [7]
Candidate James Houlihan Ralph Conner Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,010,400 246,186 Percentage 80.41% 19.59%
Assessor before election James Houlihan Democratic Elected Assessor James Houlihan Democratic

In the 2006 Cook County Assessor election, incumbent Assessor James Houlihan, a Democrat first appointed in 1997 who was reelected in 1998 and 2002, was again reelected. ^[9]

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Assessor Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James Houlihan (incumbent)	492,077	100
Total votes			492,077	100

Republican

Cook County Assessor Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ralph Conner	101,053	100
Total votes			101,053	100

General election

Cook County Assessor election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James Houlihan (incumbent)	1,010,400	80.41
	Republican	Ralph Conner	246,186	19.59
Total votes			1,256,586	100

Clerk

2006 Cook County Clerk election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
Turnout	47.24% [1] [8] [7]
Candidate David Orr Nancy Carlson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,034,263 246,044 Percentage 80.78% 19.22%
Clerk before election David Orr Democratic Elected Clerk David Orr Democratic

In the 2006 Cook County Clerk election, incumbent fourth-term Clerk David Orr, a Democrat, was reelected.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Clerk Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David D. Orr (incumbent)	520,407	100
Total votes			520,407	100

Republican

Cook County Clerk Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nancy Carlson	103,878	100
Total votes			103,878	100

General election

Cook County Clerk election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David D. Orr (incumbent)	1,034,263	80.78
	Republican	Nancy Carlson	246,044	19.22
Total votes			1,280,307	100

Sheriff

2006 Cook County Sheriff election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
Turnout	46.53% [1] [8] [7]
Candidate Tom Dart Peter Garza Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 942,113 319,011 Percentage 74.70% 25.30%
Sheriff before election Michael F. Sheahan Democratic Elected Sheriff Tom Dart Democratic

In the 2006 Cook County Sheriff election, incumbent fourth-term Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. ^[10] Democrat Tom Dart was elected to succeed him.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Sheriff Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. Dart	331,318	61.91
	Democratic	Sylvester E. Baker, Jr.	133,944	25.03
	Democratic	Richard L. Remus	69,899	13.06
Total votes			535,161	100

Republican

Cook County Sheriff Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Garza	102,795	100
Total votes			102,795	100

General election

Cook County Sheriff election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. Dart	942,113	74.70
	Republican	Peter Garza	319,011	25.30
Total votes			1,261,124	100

Treasurer

2006 Cook County Treasurer election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
Turnout	47.38% [1] [8] [7]
Candidate Maria Pappas Erik Peck Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,074,756 209,253 Percentage 83.70% 16.30%
Treasurer before election Maria Pappas Democratic Elected Treasurer Maria Pappas Democratic

In the 2006 Cook County Treasurer election, incumbent second-term Treasurer Maria Pappas, a Democrat, was reelected.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Treasurer Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maria Pappas (incumbent)	521,488	100
Total votes			521,488	100

Republican

Cook County Treasurer Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Erik Peck	101,372	100
Total votes			101,372	100

General election

Cook County Treasurer election ^{[1] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maria Pappas (incumbent)	1,074,756	83.70
	Republican	Erik Peck	209,253	16.30
Total votes			1,284,009	100

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

2006 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
Turnout	47.50% [1] [8] [7]
Candidate Todd Stroger Tony Peraica Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 690,945 596,212 Percentage 53.68% 46.32%
President before election John Stroger (before primary)/ Bobbie L. Steele (before general election) Democratic Elected President Todd Stroger Democratic

In the 2006 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election, incumbent President Todd Stroger, a Democrat appointed following the resignation of his father John Stroger, was elected to a full term. Originally, then-incumbent John Stroger had been running for reelection, winning the Democratic primary, before backing-out and also resigning from the presidency.

Primaries

Democratic

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John H. Stroger, Jr. (incumbent)	318,634	53.52
	Democratic	Forrest Claypool	276,682	46.48
Total votes			595,316	100

Republican

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tony Peraica	104,807	100
Total votes			104,807	100

General election

Suffering health ailments, John Stroger was removed from the ticket in June and replaced by his son Todd Stroger. ^[11] John Stroger retired in August, and Bobbie L. Steele was appointed to fill out the remainder of his unexpired term. ^[12]

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Todd H. Stroger	690,945	53.68
	Republican	Tony Peraica	596,212	46.32
Total votes			1,287,157	100

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Main article: 2006 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

2006 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

←  2002 November 7, 2006 2010  →
All 17 seats on the Cook County Board of Commissioners 9 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 12 5 Seats won 12 5 Seat change Popular vote 924,939 276,925 Percentage 76.45% 22.89% Swing 1.90% 2.56%

The 2006 Cook County Board of Commissioners election saw all seventeen seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms.

Fifteen members were reelected. One incumbent Democrat withdrew from their election after being renominated, while one incumbent Republican lost his primary. No seat changed parties. ^{[2] [3] [1]}

Cook County Board of Review

2006 Cook County Board of Review election

←  2004 November 7, 2006 2008  →
2 of 3 seats on the Cook County Board of Review 2 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 2 1 Seats after 3 0 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 1 1 Races won 2 0

In the 2006 Cook County Board of Review election, two seats, one Democratic-held and one Republican-held, out of its three seats were up for election.

The Cook County Board of Review has its three seats rotate the length of terms. In a staggered fashion (in which no two seats have coinciding two-year terms), the seats rotate between two consecutive four-year terms and a two-year term. ^[13]

1st district

See also: Cook County Board of Review 1st district

Incumbent second-term member Maureen Murphy, a Republican last reelected in 2002, lost reelection to Democrat Brendan F. Houlihan. This election was to a four-year term. ^[13]

Primaries

Democratic

No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Democratic primary. ^{[2] [3]} Incumbent Republican Maureen Murphy successfully challenged the nomination petitions of the only Democrat running, Brendan Houlihan, meaning that he was removed from the Democratic primary ballot. However, since, consequentially no candidate appeared on the ballot in the Democratic primary, state law enabled the Democratic committeemen from the Board of Review's 1st district to pick a nominee. They ultimately selected Houlihan as their nominee. ^[14]

Republican

Cook County Board of Review 1st district Republican primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Maureen Murphy (incumbent)	76,100	100
Total votes			76,100	100

General election

Cook County Board of Review 1st district election ^{[1] [8]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Brendan F. Houlihan	245,227	51.48
	Republican	Maureen Murphy (incumbent)	231,153	48.52
Total votes			476,380	100

2nd district

See also: Cook County Board of Review 2nd district

Incumbent second-term member Joseph Berrios, a Democrat last reelected in 2002, was reelected. Berrios had not only served since the Board of Review was constituted in 1998, but had also served on its predecessor organization, the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, for ten years. This election was to a two-year term. ^[13]

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Board of Review 2nd district Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Berrios (incumbent)	132,358	100
Total votes			132,358	100

Republican

No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary. ^{[2] [3]}

General election

Cook County Board of Review 2nd district election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Berrios (incumbent)	294,148	100
Total votes			294,148	100

Water Reclamation District Board

2006 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election

←  2004 November 7, 2006 2008  →
3 of 9 seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 5 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 9 0 Seats after 9 0 Seat change Seats up 3 0 Races won 3 0

In the 2006 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, three of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election in an at-large race. ^{[2] [3]} Since three six-year seats were up for election, voters could vote for up to three candidates and the top-three finishers would win.

Incumbent commissioner, Democrat Terrence J. O'Brien, was reelected. ^[15] Winners also included newly-elected Democrats Debra Shore and Patricia Horton. ^{[16] [17]} The two incumbents who did not seek reelection were James Harris and Harry Yourell. ^[18]

Primaries

Democratic

Water Reclamation District Board election Democratic primary ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debra Shore	225,051	17.30
	Democratic	Terrence J. O'Brien (incumbent)	215,757	16.59
	Democratic	Patricia Horton	165,669	12.74
	Democratic	James "Jim" Harris	162,951	12.53
	Democratic	Frank Avila	149,299	11.48
	Democratic	Dean T. Maragos	114,683	8.82
	Democratic	Lewis W. Powell, III	110,335	8.48
	Democratic	Barrett F. Pedersen	92,293	7.10
	Democratic	Boguslaw "Bogie" Stefanski	64,580	4.97
Total votes			1,300,618	100

Republican

No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Republican primary. ^{[2] [3]}

General election

Water Reclamation District Board election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Debra Shore	864,967	39.49
	Democratic	Terrence J. O'Brien (incumbent)	680,723	31.08
	Democratic	Patricia Horton	644,875	29.44
Total votes			2,190,565	100

Judicial elections

Partisan elections were held for 27 judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County, due to vacancies. ^[1] Other judgeships had retention elections.

Partisan elections were also held for 15 subcircuit courts judgeships due to vacancies. ^[1] Other judgeships had retention elections.

Other elections

Coinciding with the primaries, elections were held to elect both the Democratic and Republican committeemen for the suburban townships. ^[2]

See also

• 2006 Illinois elections

References

1. "Cook County and the City of Chicago Combined Summary Report November 2006 General Election Tuesday, November 7th, 2006" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2021.
2. "2006 Primary Election March 21, 2006 Summary Report Suburban Cook County" (PDF). Cook County Clerk's Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
3. "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE GENERAL PRIMARY ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2006 A.D." (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
4. "2006 Primary Election March 21, 2006 Summary Report Suburban Cook County OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF). Cook County Clerk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
5. "CITY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PRIMARY ELECTION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010 STATISTICS" (PDF). chicagoelections.com. Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
6. "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006 A.D." (PDF). Chicago Board of Elections. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
7. "Voter Registration and Turnout 1990 - 2019 | Cook County Clerk's Office". www.cookcountyclerk.com. Cook County Clerk. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
8. "TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007 A.D." (PDF). Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
9. Cox, Ted (6 August 2009). "Houlihan won't seek reelection as Cook Co. assessor -- Daily Herald". prev.dailyherald.com. Daily Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
10. Briggs, Johnathon E.; Ciokajlo, Mickey (27 November 2005). "GOP taps candidate for county sheriff". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
11. Todd Stroger wins dad's ballot spot ^{[ permanent dead link ]} Chicago Sun-Times , July 19, 2006.
12. Pohl, Kimberly (3 February 2010). "Longtime Cook Co. Board member Carl Hansen dies -- Daily Herald". prev.dailyherald.com. Daily Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
13. "35 ILCS 200/5-5". ilga.gov. Government of Illinois. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
14. Joravsky, Ben (29 June 2007). "Welcome to the club, Commissioner Houlihan". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
15. Fore, Allison (16 November 2012). "North Side Water Reclamation Plant is renamed to Terrence J. O'Brien Water Reclamation Plant". Chicago Heights, IL Patch. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
16. "Debra Shore". Ballotpedia.
17. "City clerk candidate Patricia Horton". Chicago Sun-Times. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
18. Hayes, Christopher (27 October 2005). "Running on Water". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 17 March 2020.