Finger pointed and voice raised, Ald. Ed Smith fired what he believed was an impassioned insult at Cook County Recorder Gene Moore.

“Todd Stroger endorsed him!” Smith said of Moore during a debate before last week’s Democratic race for recorder. “Tell them! Todd Stroger endorsed you!”

The Cook County Board president’s name wasn’t anywhere to be found on countywide ballots, but his name repeatedly came up throughout the campaigns for recorder, state’s attorney and the Board of Review.