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* We’ve all seen the ads and the press releases from both sides of the US Senate race.
“He’s a mob banker!” “He’s a liar!” “He didn’t pay taxes!” “He’s a liar!” Etc., etc.
Well, Rick Pearson of the Tribune finally had enough of it and during yesterday’s editorial board debate he decided to see if Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk were man enough to say this stuff to each others’ faces. The results were fairly predictable…
Pearson is now officially a hero of this campaign. Full debate audio here.
But all that talk about “issues” and such didn’t last. Here’s the latest missive from the National Republican Senatorial Committee…
Good morning –
In case you missed it, mob banker Alexi Giannoulias was unable to name a single federal spending measure that he would have voted against during a recent meeting with the Chicago Tribune.
* The Illinois Republican Party really roughed up the Constitution Party. After weeks and weeks of turmoil, an appellate panel has denied the party a ballot spot…
The appellate judges dismissed the party’s claim that it turned in the required 25,000 signatures of registered voters. At issue: 82 signatures, which were thrown out, that could’ve swung the decision the other way. The judges ruled those signatures were no good because they were collected by someone who also collected signatures for another party in the primary.
The Constitution Party lawyer says, “Obviously [this was] not the final result we were looking for.” He says he plans to ask the appellate court to reconsider.
* Joe Berrios has never been known as a pushover, and his campaign is not sitting still for the beating it’s taking from Chicago’s media, the Better Government Association and rival county assessor candidate Forrest Claypool.
Berrios has filed an IRS complaint alleging that the BGA is engaging in unlawful campaign activities on behalf of Claypool. Berrios’ campaign has pointed out that the Chicago Tribune ignored a story about pay raises granted by Claypool despite a county board wage freeze. He’s claimed that Claypool actually will increase property taxes.
And now Berrios is going after Claypool’s campaign contributors.
Berrios more than just implies that several of Claypool’s major contributors donated cash after Berrios’ Board of Appeals denied their requests for property tax cuts. The site is called Victims of Joe Berrios.com. One example…
In 2009, Richard Driehaus appealed to Joe Berrios for a tax break on his $2,229,980 mansion.
Joe Berrios said no!
So Richard gave $150,000 to Forrest Claypool’s campaign for Cook County Assessor.
Another victim of Joe Berrios, vindicated!
Yikes. The site features photos of many of the properties. It also includes this explanation…
All of these wealthy Chicagoans filed appeals to get tax breaks with the Board of Review, only to be denied.
Their properties include mansions, condos and parking spaces - at places such as Water Tower Place and along the Gold Coast.
When these affluent folks didn’t catch a break, they turned to someone who could help them in the future: former Democrat Forrest Claypool.
How did they help? By giving him more than $500,000 in just six months’ time so that he could run for the job of Cook County assessor, a role that would allow him to give them breaks before they even have to appeal to the Board of Review.
The public deserves to know that the best candidate for the job is the person who doesn’t take money from millionaires and billionaires hoping to shirk their fair share of property taxes. That person is Joe Berrios.
Chutzpah. But I’ll bet Berrios would say that to Claypool’s face.
…Adding… Oh, man, I didn’t even see this one…
In 2007, Jan Schakowsky appealed to Joe Berrios for a tax break on her $726,450 love nest.
Joe Berrios said no!
So Jan gave her coveted endorsement to Forrest Claypool’s campaign for Cook County Assessor. [Emphasis added]
Ouch.
* In other hardball news, Planned Parenthood is trying to get the word out about what conservative Bill Brady could do if elected governor. From a press release…
After eliminating all family planning funding and negatively impacting 40,000 patients in his state, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today stumps for Bill Brady in campaigning efforts across Illinois. Now the women of Illinois want to know, will Bill Brady cut family planning funding in Illinois just like NJ Governor Christie? […]
Christie’s first action as governor was to end all state family planning funding and stop New Jersey from implementing a Medicaid family planning program similar to the Illinois Healthy Women family planning program. As a result, an estimated 40,000 patients will lose access to this critical health care service in New Jersey. With the Governor’s action, Planned Parenthood of Southern New Jersey recently closed a health center and 57 additional health care providers will be impacted.
“Health professionals who provide family planning are often the only source of health care services for women and families who have no health insurance coverage,” said Pam Sutherland of PPIA. “Christie is trying to push through his opposition to family planning under the cover of cost cutting. But women and the state are eventually bound to pay the cost.”
Just because it’s appropriated, doesn’t mean it has to be spent.
* The Sun-Times endorsed Dan Seals this week and had some unkind words for his GOP opponent Robert Dold…
Ultimately, though, Dold seems to fall back on the usual Republican talking points, some utterly baseless. He is pushing the latest GOP line, for example, that the nation’s slow progress in creating new jobs is the fault of an unpredictable business climate created by Obama administration policies.
As if the great recession never happened.
* Roundup…
* Quinn, officials fight unlimited spending: Elected officials from five states are forming a coalition aimed at fighting unlimited campaign spending by corporations and independent groups. The group is known as CAPS. That stands for Coalition for Accountability in Political Spending.
* Biggert deserves re-election to House: Reviewing the voting record of the last year, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bipartisan Republican in Congress. Such are the politically polarized times we live in.
* Bean right for her district: Melissa Bean is a different kind of Democrat by Illinois standards, more opposed to taxes, more a defender of big banks and more fiscally conservative in general.
* Election 2010: A Close Look at the Illinois Recall Amendment
* Three Reasons for Hope and Three Reasons for Despair for Democrats
* Sierra Club Dispatching Campaign Workers to Help in 29 Pivotal Races
* DCCC Still Holding Funds for Late TV Push
* Giannoulias, Quinn let students know they’re for real
* Northwest Herald: Treasurer: Rutherford
* Northwest Herald: Comptroller: Topinka
* Eighth District Congressional race epitomizes reasons for voter angst
* Planned Parenthood criticizes Dold for abortion stance
* Have questions for 14th District candidates? Send them to us
* Quad-Cities’ Congressional Race Heats Up
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:24 pm
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I am interested in seeing how Claypool and the crew respond to these repeated punches to the pants.
Comment by Pioneer P. Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:43 pm
I am glad to see that Berrios is going to go on the offensive against that hypocrit. Claypool tries to be hollier than thou. He is as self serving as the rest of the pols
Comment by "Old Timer Dem" Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:45 pm
That’s pretty good stuff from Berrios. I have no illusions about Berrios, but I have no-faith in born-again reformers like Claypool. The dude’s been flopping around ever since he got shut out of the Obama administration.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:49 pm
Word, I don’t think Claypool was “shut out” of the administration. At least, that’s not my recollection.
And whether Claypool is a born-again reformer or not, we know what we’ll get with Berrios. If he wins, the Machine is still alive. And I’m not cool with that. Something needs to change, and as far as I’m concerned, it starts with Joe Berrios’ early retirement.
Claypool ain’t no saint, but he’s a heck of a lot better than the current go-along, get-along back-scratching club that is the Cook County Regular Democratic Organization. Claypool is nothing if not irregular.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:57 pm
Pearson may be a “hero”, but in the audio, both Alexi and Kirk are 100% correct. The media doesn’t cover substance, they only cover the attacks. Pardon me if I don’t get all outraged that these guys are doing what it takes to win.
Alexi and Kirk are just living in the world created by the media — and the Tribune, frankly, is one of the very worst offenders. Rest assured, If the media covered campaigns as if they were about actual substance, and really held candidates to account for over the top attacks, candidates would act much differently.
Comment by ILPundit Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 1:59 pm
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/
the tribune posted the full debate. To my mind the questions are the best and most thorough of any debate. Alexi has nothing of substance to say beyond national democrat talking points and kirk totally outclasses him on the issues. The kirk haters like bored now can dislike his policies, but they have always aknowledged he’s one smart candidate and he totally nails it. Its 90 minutes so probably a night thing to watch after the kids go to bed.
Comment by shore Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:00 pm
It always seems that when the national party of either side gets involved in a campaign it gets down and real dirty real quick. I think that sometimes hurts a campaign because the negativity and the visciousness of it turns off potential voters. Have any candidates ever distanced themselves from national support? I think I might be tempted to tell them thanks, but no thanks.
Can Claypool now bring up all of the folks’ names that Berrios has helped with the assitance of MJM? I would think that list might be longer. It might be neat to see a total of tax exemptions given through Berrios and the potential cost if those Claypool supporters got their exemptions if he were elected and see which one is more.
Comment by Irish Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:01 pm
===If he wins, the Machine is still alive===
And if he loses? The Machine has lost before, you know.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:06 pm
–Claypool is nothing if not irregular.–
That explains the perpetual grimace, I guess.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:06 pm
47th Warder it’s so funny to hear you criticize Joe Berrios when everyone knows the Schulter has been trying to trade Video Poker for TIF proceeds. Grow a pair and speak the truth
Comment by diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:10 pm
===The Machine has lost before===
Has a sitting Cook County Dem Chairman lost before? I’m not sure how to even Google that. Claypool in the assessors office breaks the unseemly link between the Cook County Democratic Party and the State Democratic Party. It isn’t the end of the Machine, but it might be the beginning of the end. Or the end of the beginning. Or something.
What it won’t be is the status quo, and that’s good enough for me.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:12 pm
diehard Dem, bite me.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:13 pm
doesn’t it take two commissioners to approve a property tax reduction at the Board of Review. So is the criticism that Larry Rogers is out of line also. Interesting that all of the historic criticism from Claypool is always directed to minorities. now he’s caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Face it Claypool has always worked for and represented the elite class. he’s no more a reformer then Sam Zell is a publisher. oh there’s another $200,000 contributor to one of his earlier campaigns.
Comment by diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:14 pm
47th bring it baby lol
Comment by diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:15 pm
diehard:
Don’t forget the third member of that Board who might not get a single endorsement from a newspaper after losing the trib’s endorsement yesterday.
Comment by Frank Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:16 pm
I didn’t know so many properties downtown would even think they’re eligible to get reductions. we’ve heard about the taxes being out of wake around the collar of Cook but some of these properties are just way out there. Pritzkers are always crying. Marmon Group was formed to avoid paying most taxes. Go get them Joe B
Comment by 42 ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:18 pm
wow the other Houlihan. i’ve tried my best to forget that guy. he forgot the D in Democrat. i can’t imagine a fair assessement process with Claypool at all. here’s a guy who has made a living criticizing everyone else, but not once has brought a solution to the table. let’s start with how many Bills he’s sponsored at the board over his career? two!!! and one is prized with messing up the way properties are assessed. he’s remedy is to criticize Berrios for being late. give me a break
Comment by diehard dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:22 pm
“Don’t forget the third member of that Board who might not get a single endorsement from a newspaper after losing the trib’s endorsement yesterday.”
The Trib’s credibility is on “E” right now. Neither the Houlihan (Brendan) or challenger Patlak were brought in for endorsement interviews. That is truly an endorsement in name only (EINO?) …
The Trib is playing early Col. Santa for all the Republican boys and girls out there and this was another gift. Brendan got coal. Ho ho ho … ack … gag.
Comment by Pioneer P. Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:24 pm
I thought it was funny but distasteful that every parking spot shown on the Berrios website is spot number “666.” Like opposing him makes the person the anti-Christ.
The other issue is the Driehaus mansion valued at $2,229,980 shows the picture of the coach house. The mansion is located on prime property around Rush and Erie. The coach house may be worth about $2 million but the mansion (which I think is his office) has to be worth well over $10 million.
Comment by Objective Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:25 pm
Rich, good case in point. Everyone criticizes the “Machine” and Madigan until they want something. the Machine got Schulter elected. it got Claypool his job as Chief of Staff and the Park District where he gave away the parking garage to one of his current contributors. Everyone criticizes until they want to get elected, a job or a lobbying contract. now when they’re told to wait or work harder they criticize it and call it corrupt.
Comment by Northside Ed Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:26 pm
If that is the actual parking place than the 666 is kind of funny…
I have to give Berrios, it is an effective argument in some ways, if nothing else it makes you want to read it.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:30 pm
i saw a picture on a Facebook page of Claypool in one of Driehaus many homes. i guess there’s one that he actually turned into a museum. get that. he has a compound on one of the Goldcoast that’s his office and on the other end a museum. oh i get it. that way he doesn’t have to pay property taxes on the museum if it’s a 501C3
Comment by Diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:34 pm
OneMan, I’m told it was not the actual space. Sneaking into a parking garage would’ve been decidedly unkosher.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:36 pm
Hitting Jan like that was beyond inappropriate.
Comment by Tom B. Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:39 pm
The real victims of Joe Berrios:
- Property owners who are forced to finance his cuts for campaign donors.
- Everyone paying higher sales taxes because of the Berrios endorsed Stroger sales tax hike.
- The families that will be negatively affected by the legalization of the “crack cocaine of gambling”, the video poker lobbied for by Berrios. - Everyone affected in other negative ways by Board President Stroger, who was helped in by Berrios
Comment by matt Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:41 pm
Ok,
Some parking garages have deeded and undeeded spots so you might not have had to sneak in.
Tom B, it might have been but Joe is playing for keeps, if they go after you hard, you need to hit back hard.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:43 pm
Are you kidding Tom B. she throws mud like she grew up in Mississippi slinging mudpies. Shakowsky has always pointed her finger at everyone else while she does whatever her fancy likes. she fought for Shorebank because her contributors were involved. come one let’s be real. Ethics are not her strong suit.
Comment by Diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:45 pm
I agree Diehard, the Jan thing was pretty funny. She has no problem dishing it out, but clearly she cannot take it.
Comment by Bakersfield Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:49 pm
North Side Nick — I highly doubt he is financed solely by those who had tax appeals denied by Berrios. But that is a good narrative, you guys should keep pushing that…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:53 pm
diehard dem, what in the world do you mean that “all of the
historic criticism from Claypool is always directed to
minorities…” ? that is just delusional, sounds like
some nonsense Beavers spouts, proclaiming racism
when what is really getting hit is another party hack.
any study of Claypool’s record in government shows
his fairness to the public in every neighborhood.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:53 pm
Let me remind all of you that “sock puppetry” is verboten here. That means multiple comments from the same person using different names. It’s a lifetime banishable offense. Stop it.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 2:58 pm
Here is an interesting/entertaining thought (at least for me) has anyone asked the name that dare not be spoken here about his thoughts on the assessor race?
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:02 pm
Jan. S. is hardly a fragile flower. I imagine she can take the heat.
I like this Berrios/Claypool race more and more. The hypocrisy, faux outrage and supporting characters on both sides are very entertaining.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:04 pm
wordslinger — I am with you on this, the holy, holy status of Claypool, the rough and tumble of Berrios. This one may be fun for the next month.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:08 pm
===has anyone asked the name that dare not be spoken here about his thoughts on the assessor race?===
I just did. Kinda…
http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23tellitlikeitis
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:10 pm
Sick of it, either you didn’t see my sockpuppet warning or ignored it. Either way, enjoy your lifetime banishment.
Anybody else wanna try?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:12 pm
Yes it would tell us a lot…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:13 pm
I think we’re gonna have a little fun with that hashtag tomorrow, OneMan.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:15 pm
I’m sorry about that double post. Posted from my phone and for some reason it wasn’t showing up, of course until after I made another post. Not sure if your comments about sock puppeting were directed at me, but the posts were under “matt” and “Matt”.
Comment by Matt Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:20 pm
Berrios is looking desperate, he must be worried.
It would be interesting to know if any of the cases that Berrios highlighted on his website were appealed to the Property Tax Appeal Board. In my experience, the Board routinely says no to tax reductions, which are then granted at PTAB (essentially meaning that PTAB is saying that the Board of Review was wrong).
Comment by Cynic Al Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:22 pm
“she throws mud like she grew up in Mississippi slinging mudpies.”
Clever.
#similefail
Comment by FillB Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:24 pm
No, Matt. They weren’t.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:25 pm
I don’t think he is looking desperate…
Claypool is going after him by playing the Good-Goverment/Reformer card and the media as well as the BGA seems to much more interested in this race than they have been in the past. Can you think of any race where there has been an independent that has gotten this much attention?
You have an opponent who is getting a huge amount of free media almost all of it really positive on him and really negative on you. Where if you walked on water and saved an orpahn the BGA and Sun Times might work together to come up with a story about how you couldn’t swim.
You are getting party defections on you, folks who I suspect were never slow to ask for help from you and the Cook County Dems in the past. Now they are acting like you are a bad guy, everything that is wrong with politics.
Would you just sit there and take it?
No, your opponent is getting your negatives up with someone else’s dime, you can’t really correct that so the logical step is to get his negatives up.
How do you that, well I think he may have found a way.
Looking forward to seeing the site stuff as a TV ad.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:38 pm
- FillB - Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:24 pm:
“she throws mud like she grew up in Mississippi slinging mudpies.”
Clever.
#similefail
We gonna have a contest?
“She throws mud like…”
… the tires of a 4×4 driven across a field.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:42 pm
Yea, it seems that the media has picked their guy, but I think it’s strange that this race is getting all this attention…it’s almost like I smell a rat…I’ve only heard bad stuff on Berrios n good stuff on Claypool…awfully peculiar…
Comment by North Beverly Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:44 pm
Has anyone, who’s running for assessor, ever explained why the difference between the 2009, pay 2010, State Multiplier of 3.3701 and the Tentative Multiplier of 3.1062, which is calculated before any action on complaints? Or why that multiplier is 40 points higher than last years (2.9786)? This the largest increase over the past 5 years.
2004 2.5757; 2005 2.7320; 2006 2.7076; 2007 2.8439; 2008; 2.9786
These multipliers will be applied to individual assessments in Cook County before the real estate taxes are calculated on the second installment, which will not be mailed out until after the November 2nd election.
Just wondering!!
Comment by South of I-80 Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:51 pm
Any chance you were looking in a mirror when you declared Pearson a “hero”?
Comment by Piling on Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 3:53 pm
@ OneMan - It’s desperate because Berrios suggests that large campaign donations to Claypool were solely the result of his refusal to give property tax breaks. Unfortunately, there are many problems with Berrios’ logic. To wit:
- Berrios seems to think that his job is to deny tax reductions when, in fact, his job is to ensure that the assessed values were applied appropriately.
- Berrios never says whether these cases were appealed to PTAB and, if so, the result.
- No one would give a $50,000 campaign contribution to lower the taxes on a $55,000 parking space on which the taxes are probably about $700/year. The quid pro quo that Berrios is suggesting defies common sense.
We can agree that it unusual for an independent to receive this much attention, especially in a relatively minor race. However, I’d argue that the coverage is warranted because we haven’t seen a candidate with as many conflicts as interest as Berrios being challenged by an independent with a real chance (come to think of it, we almost never see an independent with a real chance — that in itself is newsworthy).
Bottom line: those who benefit from the sttaus quo or who reflexively vote Democrat will vote Berrios. Those who want change will vote Claypool. My hunch is that Berrios will win, but I will be overjoyed if Claypool can pull it out.
Comment by Cynic Al Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:00 pm
www.joeberrios.com
Enough said. Claypool wins the website war.
Comment by Leo Apotheker Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:02 pm
Cynic Al, you’re talking about your experiences. do you currently work at the Assessor’s or board of review and blogging on Gov’t time? lol
” In my experience, the Board routinely says no to tax reductions” that’s a no no and Claypool always criticizes everyone else for doing that.
Comment by Diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:03 pm
Matt you make those same comments all over town. so one you are definately a Claypool campaign worker and 2 not a good one.
I just don’t see the criticism of Video Poker amongst us professionals here. Video Poker is good enough for the Capital Bill and the Gov’t. why is Joe the only person criticized for it? i just don’t get that one.
Comment by Diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:05 pm
A bit off topic, but the pressure of this is getting to Maria Barrios. She actually stopped comments from appearing on her Facebook pages. Apparently, too many people were using her pages to bash Joe.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:12 pm
And people wonder why I don’t do more posts on this race.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:17 pm
@ Cynic Al — As I see all sorts of ads from Democrats that show senior citizens talking about the risks of increasing the age for social security when those who propose doing so are not talking about doing it for seniors or anyone close to retirement age I will try and remember that political attacks now need to be grounded in facts.
My question would be why would anyone give someone $50,000 to run for assessor? At least you can argue that a governor or even a mayor or state rep can have some impact on quality of life, but unless you are involved in the tax system or own a lot of property why would you give that kind of money to an assessor candidate?
As for PTAB and the rest, funny I have never seen a single story about how Berrios raises money appears to have conflicts, etc, mention anything about PTAB or any of the other process stuff.
Someone decides to help a candidate because another candidate did something they didn’t like (a vote, a ruling, etc) is not that unusual and I am very doubtful that everyone who is helping Claypool is motivated for other reasons.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:18 pm
@Diehard Dem- It’s not that I don’t criticize state government for the gambling bill. It’s obviously a contentious issue with good arguments on both sides. It’s just that Berrios had a hand in it, along with various other forms of deregulation of video gaming, and was surprisingly successful given some of the negative changes when you take into consideration the fact that Madigan is the most successful tax appeal lawyer.
Comment by Matt Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:21 pm
IMHO, I think Joe Berrios is the most corrupt politician in the state.
This is an interesting race because Fat Joe has the “D”, but Claypool has better name recognition. I would like to see some polling data on this.
Comment by Leo Apotheker Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:25 pm
http://www.forrestclaypool.org/
that’s at least a close 2nd because of the .ORG
Comment by Diehard Dem Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:29 pm
== And people wonder why I don’t do more posts on this race. ==
Because one circular firing squad in this state is enough?
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:38 pm
There should be a campaign law, if you can’t say it to your opponent’s face, you can’t say it over the public airways. Thanks Pearson.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 4:56 pm
There is a forum/debate with the candidates for assessor tonight. Should be interesting, assuming all the candidates show up.
Comment by Matt Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 5:21 pm
I find this post really fascinating. I live in Du Page, work in the City. I wouln’t know Joe Berrios if I tripped over him. Claypool? Isn’t that that whiney guy used to work for Daley?
I have no idea why the Assessor’s race is such a big deal. Don’t even know if its on the ballot where I live. But there must be some reason…patronage? Pinstripe patronage? Whatever it is, can’t be good if there’s such a fight over it…almost should be an appointed, ministerial position. Makes you want to follow the money.
Comment by Park Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 6:30 pm
Got to go with Berrios here if for only not to be “the reformers” and their hypocrisy.
Comment by paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 6:36 pm
–I have no idea why the Assessor’s race is such a big deal.–
Cliff Notes, dude: The assessor, through an inpenatrable thicket of statute and practice, decides who pays what in property taxes.
There’s a very profitable cottage industry of lawyers and fixers who can help reduce taxes, upon discretion, for some, thereby raising taxes for others.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 6:41 pm
Well…I guess we’re making progress! Looks like Pearson managed to get Kirk and Giannoulias beyond that awkward, initial handshake everyone was covering a few months ago.
Another great moment in Illinois History!
Yup.
Comment by The REAL Anonymous fka Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 6:50 pm
Word, I know that. But is anything about how you describe the process a good thing? Why can’t this be changed? In a way I don’t really care since I’m not a Cook Cty guy. But jeez!
Comment by Park Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 7:57 pm
The Berrios - Claypool race for Assessor may set a new standard for farcical comedy were it not that the greatest joke will, ultimately, be on the John and Jane Q. Public of Cook County. If ever there were a Hobson’s Choice, it must be this race. A few facts and observations:
Berrios has amassed a fortune - both in campaign contributions and personal income - in the marketplace of contributions for assessment reductions, and assessment reductions for legislative advantage for lobbying clients.
On the bright side, the Old Guard is under fire and faces significant legal challenge. The federal lawsuit in which Berrios, Rogers Jr., Houlihan and some senior staff at the Board of Review find themselves defendants is shining a spotlight on the pay-to-play, contributions for assessment reductions, and the nefarious relationship between property tax lawyers, their lawfirms, and the BoR - a relationship in which Mr. Madigan, his firm, his legislative position and Mr. Berrios takes center-stage. The lawsuit’s charges include a RICO count that sets out bribery, extortion and money-laundering at the BoR.
Berrios has been taking a well-deserved battering over his incestuous relationship with Madigan and the pay-to-players. Unfortunately, it has over-shadowed any reasonable examination of his opponent - Forrest Claypool.
Claypool has staked out a resonant position as the self-anointed ‘reformer’. He’s no dummy; in a change cycle, the ‘reformer’ always has a leg-up. One typically thinks of a ‘reformer’ as someone that is not tainted by, or not mired in, that which they propose to ‘reform’. Dr. Claypool has fed at the public trough, wallowed in the tradition of sleaze, since his arrival on the public stage. His resume:
*Lackey for Mayor Daley - rising to…
*Chief of Staff - being named to…
*Head of the Park District - running for…
*County Board - ‘allegedly’ seeing the light…
*Announcing his entry into private business - for a week…
*Finding the ‘real’ world harsh and difficult…
*Deciding to become a ‘reformer…
*Seeking a return to the public trough as Assessor
This recitation comprends a couple decades - or - virtually Dr. Claypool’s career!!
‘Reformer’ - only because he thought it sounded good and would resonate in a change election cycle.
Even more revealing is the fact that, at base, Mr. Claypool is just as ruthless, relentless and bereft of integrity as any of the pols he is making a campaign of condemning. The fact that he, his campaign manager and his campaign PAC are defendants in a state court lawsuit charing them with defamation and libel of a private citizen for political advantage speaks volumes about his ‘reformist’ bona fides. Using manufactured facts, and sources to support them, Claypool, etal., trashed a private citizen. It is demonstrative of his ethical bankruptcy that Claypool and his campaign, removed the name of the private citizen,from his attack website, just before it would have been ordered by a judge hearing a petition for a TRO against Claypool, his mgr and his PAC. Hardly the traits one would look for in a ‘reformer.’ The lawsuit charging dishonesty, defamation and libel is moving forward.
At the end of the day, at least Berrios is not disputing that his hand is in the pocket of property tax lawyers and law firms doing business with the Board of Review. Claypool is determined to work the old bait and switch — elect a ‘reformer’, get more of what you thought you just ejected.
Even Hobson would be shaking his head at this choice!!
Comment by PeoplesClarion Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 9:15 pm
I think this may be too little too late for Berrios. Either way, great website and that is A LOT of money being donated to Clayppool. I am sure Berrios gets similarly large contributions
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 9:32 pm
It’s way bigger than you let on, PeoplesClarion, (if that is your real name),
Don’t forget, Claypool is also a former Quinn staffer. AND he worked for David Axelrod’s firm, and Axelrod, Rahm, Claypool and David Wilhelm all worked for Paul Simon in 1984. Rahm and Wilhelm also worked for Clinton.
Think about it. Where do you think Quinn-Simon came from? Why do you think Daley announced his retirement? Rahm is in on it too.
Forrest isn’t a reformer, he’s the boss. He had to get Obama elected President before he could pull off the political move of the century.
Thanks for shining a light on Claypool’s nefarious past. I can’t believe the MSM keeps giving him a pass with this reformer BS.
Stay vigilant my friend.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 10:39 pm
Park,
Odds are it is, however I think outside of cook county it is generally elected by township (it is here in Aurora Township) also you have to meet some job specific requirements to be elected township assessor.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 5, 10 @ 11:43 pm
“It is demonstrative of his ethical bankruptcy that Claypool and his campaign, removed the name of the private citizen,from his attack website, just before it would have been ordered by a judge hearing a petition for a TRO against Claypool, his mgr and his PAC. Hardly the traits one would look for in a ‘reformer.’ The lawsuit charging dishonesty, defamation and libel is moving forward.”
Have you taken one moment to examine the merits of this libel/defamation case? It involves a tiny section of Claypool’s Berrios attack site, and it was 100% cited.
Once again, even if you were to take your statements at 100% face value (which is impossible to seriously consider) Claypool is HARMLESS compared to Berrios. If everything you say is true about Claypool, it doesn’t even compare to the impact Berrios’ actions have had on average tax payers. Not for one single second can you make that argument. Attack Claypool’s “reformer credentials” all you want, at least he has some semblance of reformer credentials (opposition to Stroger tax increase, savings as head of park district). You can’t attack Berrios’ reformer credentials because he has none. The man is a walking talking conflict of interest that has inflicted unforgivable harm to the average taxpayer through policies he’s endorsed (Stroger sales tax increase) and the tax burden he has shifted.
Comment by Matt Wednesday, Oct 6, 10 @ 12:59 am
One last thing I forgot to add is that the lawsuit against Claypool has simply been FILED. There has been no ruling or anything with it. You place so much importance on it simply because someone claimed it happened. I could claim you have libeled me right now. Is it true? No. Does the mere fact that I filed a suit mean anything? Nope. Wait until the verdict until you judge a man solely on a lawsuit that’s been filed, and a baseless one at that.
Comment by Matt Wednesday, Oct 6, 10 @ 1:02 am
I wonder if Carol Marin and the so-called BGA will write about these “Claypool Donors?” What a joke. Berrios is no saint but the coverage against him seems to me like a witch hunt. He should do a commercial on this. I’m switching from Claypool to Berrios out of spite. Claypool is no reformer. I’d call him an opportinist.
Comment by anon Thursday, Oct 7, 10 @ 12:58 am