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Cook County President Todd Stroger has not even completed one full year in office, and in that short time he has been blasted by the media and sharply criticized by several of his colleagues on the County Board.

And since the day his name started being floated as a possible replacement for his father, Todd Stroger became the immediate target of relentless scrutiny.

"The criticism of him stems from his nomination and the process," said Commissioner John Daley, D-Chicago, who was a close adviser to John Stroger. "I think he's been judged from the day he was picked, but the people had a choice, and he was elected."

Technically, those who serve on the Cook County Central Committee last fall chose Todd Stroger as the candidate to replace the ailing John Stroger on the Democratic ballot. He was sworn into office on Dec. 4.

"(Todd Stroger) was put into office by some very powerful county ward bosses, and he is protecting the interests of people who put him in power," said Commissioner Forrest Claypool, D-Chicago, who lost the Democratic primary to John Stroger and lost the subsequent battle for the ballot to Todd Stroger.

Once Todd Stroger took his father's former post, the criticism against him shifted from his election to his policies and leadership style -- making headlines and causing heated boardroom battles.

"He's managed to create a public relations nightmare for himself," said Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, which recently delivered a report to the county indicating that the board must raise additional revenue to support its operations. "He's had so many missteps that I think people are going to evaluate his record harshly."

Stroger's latest blunder may have come when he released his 2008 budget proposal, calling for millions of dollars in new sales, parking, and gasoline taxes. Upon questioning, Stroger admitted to reporters that the funds collected could be more that the county actually needs. If the county ended up with extra cash, Stroger said he'd simply find a way to return money to taxpayers.

"No politician has the credibility to say that, but certainly not someone who's just come into office and who's come into office the way he did," Martire said. "Jim Edgar couldn't say that, JFK couldn't say that, Abe Lincoln couldn't say that -- Todd Stroger probably ought to find a way around that."念191;?