Tony Peraica
Tony Peraica (born April 14, 1957) is the Cook County Commissioner for the 16th district, and the Republican nominee for Cook County Board President.
Early life
Peraica was born in Croatia in 1957 and was orphaned at the age of 11, Peraica immigrated to the United States at the request of his wealthy Aunt Lucille Belgarbo when he was 13. When his Uncle died he drew his Aunt's will to become sole executor, when his Aunt died in the early 1980s Peraica inherited property in Florida, Croatia, and the family's home in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago which he has since sold.
Education
Peraica attended private Catholic Schools including St Jerome Grade School, and DeLasalle High School. Benefiting from federal education grants, Peraica attended the University of Illinois where he earned his B.A. in political science, and went on to earn his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984 and continues to work as a lawyer in private practice at Anthony J. Peraica & Associates.
Early positions
From 1990 to 1992 Peraica served as a Special Assistant for the Attorney General of Illinois. Peraica founded the South Loop Chamber of Commerce in 1990 and is currently the Commerce Secretary. From 1995 to 1997 Peraica served as the International Vice President for the Boy Scouts of America. In 1996 Peraica was appointed by then Governor Jim Edgar to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation where he served four years.
Peraica served as National President of the Croatian American Association for 5 years (1992-1995 and 1997) and is currently the Illinois President.
Cook County Commissioner
In 2002, Peraica was elected commissioner. In his 2002 campaign for County Commissioner. Peraica campaigned on a "reform" agenda and against a $24,000 pay increase. Peraica promised that, if elected, he would donate the $24,000 a year pay increase to charity, a promise he has not kept. He is currently the Republican candidate for Cook County Board President. If elected County Board President he would make over $180,000 a year.
In the 2002 Republican primary Peraica defeated incumbent Al Carr, and in the General Election Peraica defeated Melrose Park, Illinois Mayor Ron Serpico to win election to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in the 16th district. In 2006 Peraica will face William Edward Gomolinski in his race to retain his seat as commisioner.
Peraica serves on 20 committees, which include: Education, Human Relations, Enviromental Control, Law Enforcement and Corrections, Health and Hospitals, Finance, Zoning and Buildings, and Roads and Bridges. Peraica has attempted to get law partner Tom Garrett on the Metra Board as a political appointment, and has gotten numerous other politicial supporters appointed to various positions in both, county departments and municipalities. Peraica holds financial inerest in real-estate holdings involving the Lyons riverwalk raising allegations of a conflict of interst.
Lyons Township Republican Committeeman
Tony Peraica is currently the Lyons Township Republican Committeeman. In his 2006 campaign for reelection it was reported that several campaign workers for Peraica entered an event for his opponent Michael LaPidus and placed Peraica stickers on the chests of women attending the event. Peraica narrowly won reelection garnering 50.8% to LaPidus's 49.2%. Michael LaPidus was backed by State Senator and Republican Nominee for Illinois State Treasurer Christine Radogno, former State Representative Eileen Lyons, and State Representative and 2002 U.S. Senate nominee Jim Durkin. Tony Peraica has benefited from his relationship with Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman, Bridgeview Mayor, and fellow Croatian Steve Landek receiving over $100,000 in "legal consulting fees" regarding the building of the controversial Bridgeview Dome project [1].
Personal life
Tony Peraica, a Roman Catholic, his wife Nilofar Peraica a Sunni Muslim, and their two children Marko and Anisa live in Riverside, Illinois. Peraica's son Marko — who had never held a steady job before his father was elected Commissioner — is currently employed by the Cook County government. His son Marko has four D.U.I. convictions and one charge of residential burglary in Kane County on February 28, 2005. Tony Peraica represented his son in his trial for residential burglary, and in his defense arguements claimed that someone had stolen his son's identity, and that he could not have committed the crime because he was out of the country in Croatia at the time, however according to County records Marko had shown up for work near the time of the incident and thus could not have been out of the country, and Marko had never reported a missing or stolen wallet or Identity theft.