January 23, 2010 – A River North resident, running for Cook County Board Commissioner, picked up an endorsement this week from the Chicago Tribune.

Desiree Grode, who lives at Newberry Plaza on North State Street, is running in the February 2 Democratic primary against three candidates who want to represent the 2nd District, including incumbent Robert Steele. The Tribune said Grode (left) “would streamline the government and protect the forest preserves.”

It is the latest in a string of endorsements for the attorney and professional violinist, including the Chicago Sun-Times, 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, and 42nd Ward Democratic Committeeman John Corrigan.

Grode says she is running to reduce the county’s 10.25 percent sales tax, the highest in the nation, by one percent. “As a near north resident,” she told Marina City Online on Friday, “I can see first-hand how the high sales tax has hurt our Magnificent Mile and downtown businesses.”

She also wants to merge county offices, collect $100 million in past-due bills owed to the county hospital, and post online all county revenues, expenditures, bids, and job openings.

 Web site: Taxpayers for Desiree Grode