With Commissioner Jeff Tobolski well into his eighth week as a no-show at official Cook County functions, Board President Toni Preckwinkle would not say Thursday whether she’d ask him to relinquish his position — but she didn’t rule it out.
“I’m not sure how this is gonna play out, and I don’t want to speculate on any actions we might take in the future,” Preckwinkle said. “But I think it was clear to me anyway that we needed to make some changes in leadership as a result of his continued absence, and we’re in the process of doing that. And we’ll have some recommendations for December.”
Last week, Preckwinkle wrote to the commissioner and asked him to give up his committee leadership posts because of his ongoing absenteeism.
Tobolski obliged a few days later, relinquishing his role as chairman of the county’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Committee, Technology and Innovation Committee and the Veterans Committee and his spot as vice chair of the Labor Committee.
Tobolski, who doubles as mayor of southwest suburban McCook, has missed the county’s full board and committee meetings — as well as meetings for the Cook County Forest Preserves — since the Sept. 26 federal raid on his Village Hall offices.
In his response to Preckwinkle’s letter about his committee assignments, Tobolski said he has taken “great pride in the legislative accomplishments throughout my tenure on the Board and several Committees. It has been a pleasure presiding over the various Committees and ensuring that County business is conducted efficiently.”
“However, current health issues have prevented me from attending recent meetings, and I feel it is best for me to make room for another Commissioner with the ability to devote more time to those Committees,” Tobolski wrote.
“Therefore, in the best interest of the people of Cook County and out of respect for my colleagues, I hereby resign as Chair and Vice Chair of the various Committees of the County Board and Forest Preserve District Board, effective immediately.”
