Reinventing Government

In 2003 Commissioner Quigley unveiled Reinventing Cook County, a two-part report which laid out the case for a major overhaul of the County’s structure and financial management. The report was immediately hailed by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, other media outlets, and academics as a major contribution to public debate.

The reforms proposed in Reinventing Cook County would strip away duplication and waste, expand service delivery where appropriate, and make County government simpler and more accountable to citizens.

Reinventing Cook County continues to influence public debate years after its publication. It has been repeatedly cited by editorial boards, columnists, and bloggers. In addition, the City of Chicago’s 21st Century Commission on City Government, created by Mayor Richard M. Daley to examine the future of Chicago’s governance, recommended that Chicago fold its medical care services into the County’s much larger health system and that a single countywide Board of Elections be created to administer elections in the city and suburbs—ideas proposed most recently by Commissioner Mike Quigley.

As the County and indeed all local governments in the region struggle with growing demands for services, strained resources, and the ongoing need for true public accountability, the proposals in Reinventing Cook County take on even greater urgency.

What others are saying...

",,,somebody who has advanced good government ideas, maintained his independent and battled for his beliefs…"
Chicago Sun times - November 16, 2008

"Although Quigley said he doesn't consider himself a prophet, in some ways he has been. As Claypool put it Monday, Quigley "was the first man on the beach" at the county, planting his reform flag when there wasn't anybody there to back him up."
Chicago Sun Times - December 20, 2005

"Quigley has authored five excellent reports on ways to reform county government and end its chronically spendthrift ways..."
Chicago Tribune October 28, 2003

"Quigley, 45, who is in his second term, is an outspoken advocate for change and one of the brightest people on the local political scene."
Chicago Sun-Times - October 20,2003 .