Toni Preckwinkle has pushed a flurry of no-nonsense reforms since being elected Cook County Board president in 2010.
But her attempts to extend her influence this election season have left a longtime ally wondering if Preckwinkle’s brand of independence is drifting toward “machine-like” power politics.
“You don’t want to become everything you’ve done a great job of not being your entire political career,” says state senator Kwame Raoul.