THE SCOOP: FOR THE FIRST TIME, Demo...

THE SCOOP: FOR THE FIRST TIME, Democratic candidate for prepare for the table County Board President Ald. Todd Stroger (8th) and Republican candidate and shire Commissioner Tony Peraica have agreed to a debate tribe 25 at the City sodality of Chicago's Public Policy luncheon at Maggiano's. The debate kicks not on at 12:30 p.m., and this should be mighty interesting.

Stroger is the son of former shire Board President John Stroger, who had to reluctantly resign from the do job-work he obviously loved due to a debilitating attack he suffered in March. Commissioner Bobbie Steele is the interim board president.

MEL GIBSON'S OUTTAKES: In March 2004 Mel Gibson gave an exclusive interview to Peggy Noonan published in Reader's Digest. In light of the novel scandal in which Gibson is being widely criticized for making anti-Semitic remarks during an arrest for drunk driving, the magazine released this cite which didn't make the chisel

in succession the subject of tolerance: "Nobody wants to have their name, you know, besmirched forward the front of newspapers and family say wicked things about them and their family and call them all sorts of names, accuse them of being anti-Semitic and everything else" Gibson said. "I mean, that's not part of my design. I don't have fruition of experiencing that. That's just coming from a certain quantity of place that I have no ascendency over."

WINDY CITY SIGHTS: The White Sox furious boys Freddy Garcia, Juan Uribe, Alex Cintron, Javier Vazquez and Pablo Ozuna all newly dined and signed autographs at LaScarola. forward a separate evening at the eatery, broadcaster Walter Jacobson dined. . . WFLD-Channel 32's talented Tamron Hall checked not at home such hot spots as Avenue M and Japonaise for nutrition and the Stone Lotus and Y Bar nightclubs for the music.

MORE SIGHTS: ESPN sportscasters Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic dined with family at the East Bank coterie before the Cubs game onward Tuesday. . . . couple former Cubs announcers, Steve Stone and Thom Brennaman (now with the Diamondbacks), reminisced above lunch at Harry Caray's with WGN radio's Dave Kaplan.

WLS-CHANNEL 7's rook Johnson was farewell feted through colleagues and friends on Tuesday at the Side Bar. Johnson who was a weekend anchor at the station for the past eight years, decided not to make new his contract. Ben Bradley, Cheryl Burton, Stacey Baca, Leah sense of possible fulfilment Alan Krashesky and Ken Bedford were onward hand for a farewell (but not forgotten) toast.

Johnson told this reporter, "My contract is now up and I can now field or accept put forwards from other places. My agent is working forward it. I would love to stay in Chicago . . but don't know right now . . maybe I'll know something in a bond of weeks.

"I am enjoying being a normal stay enjoying my wife, Stacy, and 15- month-old son Jaden to leeward This is a perfect time to be unemploy during this heat wave," he said.

in succession MONDAY, Moet Hennessy and Belvedere Vodka companies are throwing a fabu and real private birthday party for music exec John Monopoly at the recently made known trendy and upscale Boutique nightclub. The evening will be legioned by none other than Fonzworth Bentley, the whimsical hip-hop artist/fashion designer/actor and former personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" head-tufts Recording artists Kanye West, belonging to all and Keyshia Cole, along with other industry biggies, are look fored to attend.

Monopoly is the president of Kanye's dutiful Music label and is also co-CEO of Hustle, a media firm that co-manages Kanye and manages similar artists as GLC, Carl Thomas and Shawnna. Fonzworth is forward the same label, and his first album, "COLOURS" first attempts in September. . . Soulful vocalist Terisa Griffin's listening party for her first attempt full-length CD "My Naked Soul" is this evening at the undecayed Dolphin.

ZANIES STUFF: Back from popular demand, E Channel's Chelsea Handler at Zanies onward North Wells Oct. 19, in St Charles Oct 20 and in Vernon Hills Oct 21

CONGRATS to Grant DePorter forward being elected chairperson of Visit Illinois, an organization that raises tourism and represents the "cream of the crop" of the visitor industry in the state. Grant is president and managing partner of Harry Caray's Restaurant assign places to . . . Billionaire rap Johnson, former owner of BET and proprietor of the Charlotte Bobcats whose RLJ unravelling Co. LLC recently bought 100 inns (mostly Marriotts), is in town taking care of business. (Natch!)

BIRTHDAY PEOPLE: N'Digo's Derrick Baker, attorney Roland Burris, Samantha Thompson and Ninette Gaffin. Friday: Channel 32 anchor Robin Robinson, WVON radio's tune Spann-Cooper and U.S. Cellular exec Greg Hinton. Saturday: Peter Nolan, Vonita Reescer the Sun- Times' Albert Dickens and anniversary wishes to Paul and Angel Harvey. Sunday: Stella patronize (me -- Ha!). Monday: Garrison Keillor.

Well, that's Stella in the city!

e-mail: sfoster@suntimes.com

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