In politics, one who wields their iron fist in a velvet glove is one who has the diplomacy and tact to resolve things rationally, but the guts to use the power of that fist when circumstance demands.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Power can be inherited or passed on, but true power is earned – attained through slow and strategic calculation that is held by those that practice patience, strength and resourcefulness. Toni Preckwinkle embodies that concept.
The Cook County Board President has never been about bling or flash; rather, she’s steadfast and strategic – no showing off or showing out for her. But she is the quintessential iron fist in the velvet glove because you never see it coming.
For the past 25 years, Preckwinkle has steadily moved up the ranks of the Cook County Democratic Party.
She first served as alderman of the 4th Ward for 19 years and strengthened relationships with Hyde Park, Kenwood and Bronzeville families that have set down roots down in those communities for decades. It’s one of the few truly diverse wards in the city and includes the University of Chicago – a villain to some and a savior to others.
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