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* The Tribune has the only story I could find on this event…
Cook County Clerk David Orr on Thursday endorsed first-time candidate Fritz Kaegi in his Democratic primary bid to oust Assessor Joe Berrios.
The veteran clerk, who’s not running again after seven terms, cited the “need to clean up” the assessor’s office, particularly the inequities in the property tax system.
The Chicago Tribune highlighted that issue in its “Tax Divide” series. The investigation concluded that the county’s property tax system created an unequal burden on residents, handing huge financial breaks to homeowners who are well-off while punishing those who have the least, particularly people living in minority communities.
Orr said he’s frustrated that there have been no changes since the Tribune’s stories ran in June. In the meantime, thousands of homes have been reassessed, he said.
Despite a July announcement by County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that a probe of the entire assessment system was underway, two meetings to move that process along have since been canceled, Orr said.
* Campaign video…
*** UPDATE *** Press release…
Following is a statement from Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat running against incumbent Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios in the March 2018 primary election, in response to Berrios’ testimony before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on Friday.
“Today, Joe Berrios stood before the Cook County Board and claimed with a straight face that the assessment model Cook County uses is ‘a very good one.’ He should tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Cook County working families who are grossly and systematically overassessed every year. Meanwhile, he lets wealthy property owners off the hook–as long as they hire property tax attorneys who donate to his political fund. Let’s not forget that, for years, he has refused to reveal how Cook County calculates assessments. That is unique among county assessors in Illinois.”
“Joe Berrios wants us to ignore the well documented facts and simply pretend everything is fine. Cook County homeowners struggling to stay above water know differently.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 9:58 am
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Berrios and Preckwinkle’s troubles would seem to be a good time to attempt to build a Cook County GOP by recruiting and financing some blue-chip candidates to oppose them.
Think Jack O’Malley vs. Cecil Partee, O’Grady vs Elrod.
If they don’t do it now with all that Rauner/Griff money, they never will.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:11 am
Orr’s video calmly puts into words what many people who own Cook County property are thinking about the current assessor whether they are are D’s or R’s.
Comment by Responsa Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:11 am
It is beyond disappointing that it takes a looming retirement (after serving 7 terms) before a Democratic public official will dare to cross the corrupt Madigan led Democratic machine in Illinois.
Comment by Lucky Pierre Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:19 am
David Orr accepted the machine endorsement 7 times including the last two with Berrios at the helm. If he was such a “independent reformer’he would have not accepted it. Another gold plated phony who is full of it good riddance
Comment by Regular democrat Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:30 am
The phrase “need to clean up” is a direct quote from Robert Brown Elliott in 1874. I am hopeful that Capitol Fax will consistently call out all instances of plagiarism when they appear in politics rather than focusing on one politician’s tweets, but that appears to be a dream deferred for now.
Comment by Chris Widger Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:06 am
Just maybe the Trib articles will put an end to the absolute corrupt practice of real estate tax lawyers flooding the Speaker and Berrios with campaign contributions. One person controls the legislation and the other the actual appeal process. It stinks and as the Trib has pointed out the cost falls on the people who can least afford it. Having said that I won’t hold my breath
Comment by Sue Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:21 am
You guys need to get over yourselves with this machine talk. Sure, its a great talking point for the Republican Party, but in all reality, the “machine” is dead.
There are very few wards/townships that have the foot soldiers needed to take care of business. Several other wards have committeemen that don’t even support endorsed candidates. Its only a machine to those that have nothing - and I guess that’s what Cook County Republicans have had for several years now.
Comment by Too Much to Handle Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:22 am
I saw Bob Fioretti petitions being circulated outside the Thompson Center yesterday.
The best thing that could happen for Preckwinkle & Berrios is for Jeanne Ives to run against Rauner - then there will be some action on the GOP side so suburban Republicans will pull a GOP ballot instead of asking for a Dem ballot (if there had been no competitive GOP races) so that they could vote against Preckwinkle & Berrios
Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:24 am
See what happens when people no longer have to fear the wrath of Madigan. They can speak the truth. And the truth is that Madigan has put this state into a disastrous fiscal condition. From real estate taxes on down the line, Madigan has robbed from the people who can least afford it.
Rauner has been a disaster, but when he’s gone, we will be left with another inexperienced billionaire and the same corrupt legislature headed by Madigan. The nightmare will continue.
Comment by Lucky Louie Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:38 am
Yawn.
Comment by A guy Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 11:47 am
David Orr is like a quieter Pat Quinn - had some political clout and good reformer intentions and sold them out for his comfy office. Too little, too late.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 12:56 pm
this office is too important to be allowed to be cleaned up. it’s money-laundering machine for connected lawyers (Madigan et al) and connected pols (Berrios), Trib series laid it out in spades.
Comment by jim Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 1:14 pm