Commissioner Jan Sivertson is county board chair for 2017

Cook County Commissioner Jan Sivertson will serve as the board chair for 2017, as selected by her fellow commissioners during the first board meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
 
Serving as vice chair will be Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk, who has served as board chair for the previous two years.
 
There was some reluctance among the four county commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting in deciding who would serve in the roles of chair and vice chair. At one point, Sivertson nominated Doo-Kirk to serve as board chair for a third consecutive year, a motion that failed for lack of support.

Moments later, Commissioner Ginny Storlie nominated herself for vice chair, a motion that also failed.
 
In the end, Commissioner Jan Sivertson will serve as board chair, with Doo- Kirk serving as vice chair in 2017.
 
The appointment of chair and vice-chair came after new commissioner for District 2, Myron Bursheim, took the oath of office. Also being sworn in by Deputy Court Administrator Kim Shepherd was Assessor Todd Smith.