It was a happy day for all in the ceremonial board room on the 25th floor of the Dirksen Building Wednesday morning as Cook County Board Pres. Toni Preckwinkle, local government reform fixture Michael Shakman and Judge Sidney Schenkier took turns thanking each other for their sincere efforts to eradicate patronage hiring in offices under the president.

Local government reform fixture Michael Shakman answers questions from reporters. [Heather Cherone/The Daily Line]