Tony Peraica
Encyclopedia
Anthony J. "Tony" Peraica (born April 14, 1957) was the Cook County Commissioner
for the 16th district, and was the Republican
nominee for Cook County Board President in 2006.
or uskok
family. Tony Peraica was born in Croatia
in 1957, and was orphaned at the age of 11. He came to the United States
when he was 13. He lived in Bridgeport
, a neighborhood in Chicago
, with his aunt and uncle. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago
, where he earned his B.A. in political science
. He 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. As an underdog candidate, he was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners
in 2002 as a Republican.
In 2006, Peraica secured the Republican nomination for board president. Democrat Forrest Claypool
challenged incumbent John Stroger in the Democratic primary. Stroger fell ill in the days leading up the primary, but defeated Claypool narrowly. Stroger withdrew from the general election, and the Democratic Party selected his son, Todd Stroger, to take his place on the ballot. Peraica ran a strong campaign in the heavily Democratic county, but ultimately lost in a close race to the younger Stroger. Peraica did, however, secure reelection to the county board.
In November, 2008, Peraica lost the race for Cook County State's Attorney to Anita Alvarez, who was backed by the Chicago Democratic Party, in November 2008's general election. In 2010 Republican Primary election, Peraica defeated his opponent 75% to 25%. Tony Peraica is currently the Lyons Township
Republican Committeeman, a post he has held since 2002.
In the 2010 Election for the Cook County 16th district Commissioner he was arrested for tearing up signs of his Democratic opponent Jeffery Tobolski in McCook, IL.
On November 2, 2010 Tony Peraica lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Jeffery Tobolski garnering 42.3 of the vote to Tobolski's 50.6%.
Peraica, his wife Nilofar Peraica , and their two children Marko and Anisa live in Riverside, Illinois
.
Cook County Board of Commissioners
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district for four year terms. Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is the nation's second largest county with a population of 5.2 million residents...
for the 16th district, and was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for Cook County Board President in 2006.
Life
The Peraica family is an old hajdukHajduk
Hajduk is a term most commonly referring to outlaws, highwaymen or freedom fighters in the Balkans, Central- and Eastern Europe....
or uskok
USKOK
USKOK is a Croatian government institution. It is a State Attorney office specialized in corruption and organized crime.USKOK started work in December 2001...
family. Tony Peraica was born in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
in 1957, and was orphaned at the age of 11. He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was 13. He lived in Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Chicago
Bridgeport, one of 77 community areas of Chicago, is a neighborhood located on the city's South Side. It is bounded, generally, on the west and north by the Chicago River, on the east by Canal Street, and on the south by Pershing Road.-History:...
, a neighborhood in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, with his aunt and uncle. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
, where he earned his B.A. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He went on to earn his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School may refer to:*John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois*John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia*Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio...
. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984, and continues to work as a lawyer in private practice at Anthony J. Peraica & Associates. As an underdog candidate, he was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Cook County Board of Commissioners
The Cook County Board of Commissioners is a legislative body made up of 17 commissioners who are elected by district for four year terms. Cook County, which includes the City of Chicago, is the nation's second largest county with a population of 5.2 million residents...
in 2002 as a Republican.
In 2006, Peraica secured the Republican nomination for board president. Democrat Forrest Claypool
Forrest Claypool
Forrest Claypool is an American politician and political operative. A former Democratic member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Claypool serves as president of the Chicago Transit Authority...
challenged incumbent John Stroger in the Democratic primary. Stroger fell ill in the days leading up the primary, but defeated Claypool narrowly. Stroger withdrew from the general election, and the Democratic Party selected his son, Todd Stroger, to take his place on the ballot. Peraica ran a strong campaign in the heavily Democratic county, but ultimately lost in a close race to the younger Stroger. Peraica did, however, secure reelection to the county board.
In November, 2008, Peraica lost the race for Cook County State's Attorney to Anita Alvarez, who was backed by the Chicago Democratic Party, in November 2008's general election. In 2010 Republican Primary election, Peraica defeated his opponent 75% to 25%. Tony Peraica is currently the Lyons Township
Lyons Township, Cook County, Illinois
Lyons Township is one of thirty townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 109,264. Lyons Township was established in 1850.-Geography:...
Republican Committeeman, a post he has held since 2002.
In the 2010 Election for the Cook County 16th district Commissioner he was arrested for tearing up signs of his Democratic opponent Jeffery Tobolski in McCook, IL.
On November 2, 2010 Tony Peraica lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Jeffery Tobolski garnering 42.3 of the vote to Tobolski's 50.6%.
Peraica, his wife Nilofar Peraica , and their two children Marko and Anisa live in Riverside, Illinois
Riverside, Illinois
Riverside is an affluent suburban village in Cook County, Illinois. A significant portion of the village is in the Riverside Landscape Architecture District, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. The population was 8,895 at the 2000 census...
.