The first debate in this historic partnership was Thursday night, January 7, when the four Democratic candidates for Cook County Board president argued about taxes, spending, health care and ethics.

Charles Thomas, my successor on the political beat at ABC 7, opened the debate by asking two questions supplied by the Better Government Association:

Can county government live without the half-penny that remains on the sales tax increase approved last year?

And what have the candidates done to minimize the influence of campaign cash on their government decisions?

The answers are revealing and can be found on this page. We hope you enjoy our participation in the debates and the follow-up analysis.

-Andy Shaw, Executive Director

• BGA Press Release
  
• BGA/ABC-7/League of Women Voters News Release
  
• ABC-7: Dems Clash in Cook County Board Debate 
  
• Sun-Times: Dem foes take aim at county sales tax hike
  
• Daily Herald: Cook Co. president rivals polite in debate - if not after
  
• Chicago Tribune: Cost-cutting top issue at Cook president debate