Chicago Daily Observer

Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool was all over WLS-AM (890)—first on “Don and Roma” and later on “The Erich ‘Mancow’ Muller Show”—criticizing County Board President Todd Stroger’s troubled 2009 budget proposal Tuesday morning.

At 10 a.m., Stroger called Mancow to fight back.

“Stroger said his ears were burning more than when my friends are messing with me,” Muller said. “He seemed like a man who couldn’t take it anymore. I’m not a huge fan of his politics, but I have to commend the guy for walking into the lion’s den.”

Tired of getting “pummeled by the newspapers every day,” Cook County Board president Todd Stroger’s administration has decided to counter with a new magazine overseen by county officials.

Publisher/editor Theresa Tracy said Cook County magazine would be “independently published” and a “credible, compelling and valuable resource” for county residents.

But county officials have the final say on what’s published. And Tracy accepted $24,999 from Stroger’s administration last November to launch the magazine—$1 under the amount that would have required the approval of the full Cook County Board.