Chicago Republicans

The entry of Forrest Claypool into the race for Cook County Assessor as an Independent against Democrat Joe Berrios has many Republicans seeing a unique opportunity to take out a bulwark of the Democratic Machine’s cash flow.   

It is difficult to underestimate the importance of Cook County property tax appeals to the stream of contributions received by top Democrats every year.   Recall recent news articles on Speaker Mike Madigan, and how he has obtained major property tax reductions for large clients, like the Sears Tower.   Senate President John Cullerton also runs a lucrative law practice in – guess what? – property tax appeals!   Republican turncoat State Rep. Paul Froehlich has been caught red handed seeking political donations and campaign assistance from constituents for whom he obtained property tax reductions.   

What is the common nexus to all this?  Joe Berrios.  Berrios has been sitting on (and controlling) the three-member Cook County Board of Review, the administrative body that rules on property tax protests and appeals.  Berrios is also the Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.   

Who has been sitting on the Board of Review doling out those property tax reductions to clients of Madigan and Cullerton?  Joe Berrios.

Who has been sitting on the Board of Review while constituents of newly turned Democrat Paul Froehlich achieved an unheard of 90% plus success rate in their tax appeals?  Joe Berrios.

Now Joe Berrios wants to be the Assessor, allowing him to "arrange things" even before they hit the Board of Review.

Of course, the hopeful and the grateful all speak through political contributions.  Joe Berrios’ various committees currently have something over $1 million in cash.  Many find it hard to believe that he amassed so much cash with just a winning smile. Mike Madigan is sitting on close to $2 million in his committee.  John Cullerton is a mere piker by comparison, but managed to raise $750,000 in the six months ending 12/31/09. 

The Cook GOP has nominated Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall.  Ms. Strobeck–Eckersall is actually very qualified for the position of Cook County Assessor, having served for several years as Township Assessor in Evanston, and holding licenses as a real estate appraiser and real estate broker.   We can’t say how much money she has raised so far, since she has not filed a committee organization statement with the Illinois State Board of Elections.  Since a committee must file once it raises $3,000, we can assume there is not too much in the kitty as of yet.

The real issue is that Ms. Strobeck-Eckersall hasn’t a chance against Berrios, but Claypool does.   While Claypool is neither a Republican nor a choir boy, having served as Daley’s Chief of Staff while the rigged hiring was going on down the hall, he has a solid recent record as a reformer.  Plus, Berrios is not running for re-election to the Board of Review, so if he loses the Assessor race he is out of government, a huge loss to the Democrats.  Ms. Strobeck-Eckersall is quite correct that the two Democrats will “split the vote”, but in 2006 a good Republican Candidate, Ralph Conner, received only 19.6% of the vote countywide.  The Democrats can split their vote with room to spare.

There is another unpleasant fact.  Many “Republican” Committeemen, from both the City and the suburbs, are either allied with, beholden to, or on very good terms with Joe Berrios.  These Committeemen are not going to lift a finger for Ms. Strobeck-Eckersall.  In fact, a few can be counted on to actively work hard for a Berrios victory.    

Many are therefore wondering if having Ms. Strobeck-Eckersall withdraw to clear the field for Mr. Claypool is not the best move.  An opportunity to defeat a figure like Joe Berrios in a key post like Assessor should not be brushed aside for appearances sake.