• As concisely as possible, please state why you feel you should be endorsed over the other candidate(s).

    I have served as Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review since 1988.   I have had the opportunity to hear and supervise over 1 million cases, not only commercial and industrial cases, but residential cases as well.   The Board of Review has adjudicated appeals involving over 2.3 million parcels of real estate.  The Board of Review, under my direction,  has met the filing volume with fewer employees, a smaller budget, and has done so by closing the City triennial (2006) 45 days earlier than in the previous City triennial of 2003, while processing more than 30,000 additional appeals. We are more efficient, effective, and remain the only independent body to provide relief to taxpayers.   Throughout that time, we have constantly improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the office, modernized and automated procedures,  advanced a pro-active and aggressive community Outreach program, and greatly increased the number of homeowners filing their own appeals.  I plan to continue this positive momentum at The Cook County Assessor’s Office.  I will strive for more transparency and better success rates for residential appeals.  The other individuals in the field of candidates for this race will not be prepared to go to work on the first day in office, I will.

  • Will you accept or have you accepted campaign donations from current or potential suppliers, employees or contractors?

    No, my policy has always been that I do not accept contributions from employees, suppliers or contractors.

  • Will you accept or have you accepted contributions from attorneys, title insurers or property owners who do business with this office?

    Fundraising is a necessary component of any political campaign. It is undoubtedly the least favorite activity of any person in public life. However, the cost of campaigning is high, media exposure is expensive, mailing charges constantly increase, and the ability to reach one’s constituency ever increasingly requires more sophisticated techniques than going “door to door” as we all wish we could as in days gone by. But, unless and until some form of public financing system is devised, each candidate (unless he or she is independently wealthy) must seek support from those persons who have the greatest concern for the effective, efficient, and fair management of a public agency charged with any service with which they come into continual daily contact. Those entities and persons most interested in the proper registration of titles and legal documents may take greater interest in the Recorder’s office. Lenders and holders of tax escrows, taxing bodies and local administrators, would look to the Treasurer for fair administration of that which concerns them the most. The same is true of the Assessor or the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Each office has a general constituency of the public at large and several other minor and ancillary constituencies which deal with that office on a daily basis.

  • Will you employ or have you employed staff in your office who hold other public sector jobs concurrently?

    An employee who holds a public sector position concurrently with their Cook County Assessor’s Office position is given a “no-pay” day when they perform the duties of their other post.

  • In what circumstances should the Assessor contract for outside professional services and what criteria would you implement for letting contracts? Please comment on any existing abuses and how you would correct them.

    The Assessor hires an outside professional when certain difficult cases are brought to the Office. Appraisers have been hired, but only with County Board approval. This ensures transparency with all contracts granted.