[citation needed] In 1970, Stroger was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners as one of several members representing Chicago.
[citation needed] In 1980, Stroger unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination in Illinois's 1st congressional district against incumbent Bennett Stewart.
He also instituted a Juvenile Drug Court, appointed a Commission on Women's Issues and opened a new AIDS treatment and research facility.
[citation needed] In the Democratic primary of the 1994 county board presidential election, Stroger defeated two opponents.
[citation needed] In the 1998 Democratic primary, he defeated a suburban challenger, Cook County commissioner Calvin Sutker.
[citation needed] Stroger came under increased fire in the later years of his presidency for what his critics call a scandal- and patronage-ridden administration.
Stroger supporters counterclaimed that he dedicated his public career to providing quality and affordable health care for the poorer residents of Cook County.
[citation needed] In 2006, Stroger initially sought a fourth term as county president and as a board member.
Although he had overcome health complications in the past, questions still lingered regarding his ability to serve another term as Cook County Board President.
[3] Stroger's son Todd broke a long public silence in December 2007, telling the Chicago Sun-Times that his father had been improving until the seizures began.
[citation needed] Many Republicans and some Democrats characterized the nomination of Stroger's son as nepotism, and Claypool even told the Chicago Sun-Times that he would not vote in the November general election.
While Peraica did very well in suburban Cook County, Todd Stroger's strength among Chicago voters allowed him to win the election with 54% of the total vote.
[citation needed] In addition to ending his re-election campaigns, Stroger also resigned from his county offices effective August 1.
Another son, Hans Eric, died a year after graduating from his father's alma mater, Xavier University of Louisiana.