Preckwinkle faces libertarian challenger Michael Murphy in Cook County Board presidential race

Incumbent Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is seeking another term against libertarian challenger Michael Murphy, who’s campaigning on property tax reform, government accountability and individual liberties.

The board president oversees the county’s jails, court systems and the public health system. A large portion of the president’s job is crafting the county budget, which is overseen by the 17-member Board of Commissioners. They also oversee the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Preckwinkle, the county board’s 35th president, has held the office since 2010 and is the first Black woman elected to the position. 

During her tenure, she emphasized fiscal management, expanded health care access through CountyCare and pursued criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing the Cook County Jail population while maintaining public safety. 

She previously served 19 years as alderwoman of Chicago’s 4th Ward — which covers the Near South Side and the lakefront from Grant Park to Hyde Park —  and worked as a high school history teacher at multiple schools in the Chicago Metropolitan area before entering public office. 

Preckwinkle didn’t respond to The Phoenix’s requests for an interview.

Murphy, a systems administrator and technology professional who lives in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, is running as a libertarian. 

He said he entered the race partly because he believes competitive elections are essential to democracy and Cook County needs an alternative to its longstanding leadership.

Murphy’s platform centers on limiting government waste, improving transparency and reducing what he describes as the county’s excessive tax burden. 

He proposes basing property taxes on a home’s purchase price, with annual increases capped at 2% or the rate of inflation. He acknowledged implementing the proposal would require a gradual transition to avoid destabilizing county revenue.

Murphy also criticized the county’s property tax system upgrade, and said officials should be held accountable for cost overruns, delays and unmet promises. Drawing on his technology background, he said government agencies should be able to explain how public spending produces measurable results.

“There should have been more accountability around this when it comes to the budget humps they were going to spend, the time frame and the promises given,” Murphy said. 

On criminal justice, Murphy said he supports speedy trials and argues defendants shouldn’t have their lives put on hold for years while awaiting court proceedings. 

He also emphasized individual autonomy and said people shouldn’t be punished for decisions affecting only themselves. 

“I personally don’t agree with what we consider illegal substances right now,” Murphy said. “However, it’s one of those things when we’re balancing personal rights and you have the right to do what you want to do to your own body.”

Addressing gun violence, he pointed to mental health services and the underlying causes of violence as areas for county intervention.

“We need to ask the questions, ‘What is really causing these issues? What is bringing us up to that point?’ And I believe there is a mental health issue within Cook County and in the city of Chicago,” Murphy said.

Although the Chicago Public Schools system operates independently of Cook County government, Murphy said he would use the board president’s platform to advocate for school choice, including charter schools and homeschooling. He also said he’d work with county commissioners to encourage investment across Cook County rather than concentrating resources in select communities.

Murphy said he would enforce county sanctuary policies to prevent federal immigration authorities from using county resources for immigration enforcement. One of these policies would be removing automated license plate reader technology and other flock technologies.

“I’m not a big believer in these flock technologies, so I want to remove them,” Murphy said. “At the end of the day, if I have access to it as the county government, or I can scan a license plate to figure out where people are going, that means ICE has the same ability as well, so it’s removing those barriers that prevent ICE from performing illegal activities.”

Murphy’s campaign also emphasizes LGBTQ+ protections, reproductive rights, accessible healthcare and transit reform. He said his broader goal is to make Cook County a place where residents can afford to live, build their lives and retire without feeling compelled to leave.

“I want people to be here, grow here and stay here for their entire life,” Murphy said.