North Cook News

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison (R-Palos Park) has been recognized for his recent vote against giving commissioners a 10% pay raise, despite the measure overwhelmingly passing in a 13-4 vote.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners recently voted to give themselves and other county officials the pay increase, which takes effect in December, along with a 3% annual raise that will continue indefinitely, a recent Patch report said. Each of the commissioners will now earn $93,500 as opposed to $85,000.

"Thank you to the United Southland Republican Women for acknowledging my NO vote to pay raises for Cook County elected officials," Morrison, who represents the 17th District, said in a recent Facebook post. 

The United Southland Republic Women publicly commended Morrison in their own Facebook post, saying, "Thank you Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, one of only four votes against the pay hike."

Morrison, who also serves as Cook County GOP Party Chairman, was joined by three Democrats in voting "no," the report said. Those against the raises included Commissioners Frank Aguilar, who represents the 16th District; Luis Arroyo of the 8th District; and Dennis Deer of the 2nd District. The only other Republican on the board, Peter Silvestri, who represents the 9th District, voted for the raises.

Other organizations, including the League of Women Voters and the Chicago Civic Federation, have been opposed to automatic pay raises for elected leaders; the report said. Laurence Msall, Civic Federation president, said officials should look at their job duties and responsibilities and any changes that occurred in their positions to determine if pay adjustments are needed in the future, rather than just receiving an automatic pay raise.