Zabrocki to tighten ties with Emanuel

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki has met Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel one time.

“And I think that was in a reception line. He doesn’t know me from Adam,” Zabrocki said Wednesday.

Zabrocki expects that to change dramatically. Come September, Zabrocki is to begin a one-year term as chair of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, a consortium of 273 mayors who meet to address regional issues such as economic development, transportation, affordable housing, public utilities and protecting the environment.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley founded the caucus to foster cooperation between the city and suburbs.

The next meeting is set for September, Zabrocki said, adding that Emanuel will play a key role as Daley did.

“The king is dead. Long live the king,” Zabrocki said. “He’s the new sheriff in town, the man we have to deal with.

“Chicago is the economic engine we have in Northern Illinois. I mean that positively. I look forward to working with him.”

The kinds of issues Emanuel might be asked to address are wide-ranging.

“One is water. We all buy our water from Chicago,” said Zabrocki, who is now the caucus’ vice chair. “Another is how many people from the suburbs work in Chicago. Another issue, and one that’s not talked about much, is if Chicago is still a terrorist target, what happens if people have to be evacuated from the city. We have a Metra line from downtown. Are they coming to Tinley Park?”

Zabrocki acknowledged Emanuel’s reputation as a tough negotiator. But, he said, “Sometimes you need that kind of attitude to make tough decisions. There are going to be decisions that people aren’t happy about; economics, cutbacks, maybe a road project is delayed. Things like that.”