Winers have emerged in multiple Cook County races and voters now know who will oversee the county’s budget, run the jail and handle property taxes.
The four-term incumbent, Democrat Toni Preckwinkle, faced off against Libertarian Michael Murphy for the top seat on the Cook County Board. With 55% of the vote reported, the race was called with Preckwinkle’s commanding lead of 78.8% to Murphy’s 21.2%, according to unofficial returns.
The president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners serves as the county’s CEO and presides over board meetings; serves as president of the Cook County Forest Preserve District; approves or vetoes ordinances or resolutions; and prepares and submits a balanced budget each year.
Preckwinkle has overseen the board for the past 16 years, and touts the financial stability she’s brought to the county over the course of her tenure. Under her leadership, she said the county transformed a $500 million deficit and near-insolvent pensions into balanced budgets, stronger reserves and over $800 million in reduced debt.
If the 79-year-old wins her fifth term, she said the most urgent issue is protecting healthcare access amid federal cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Libertarian candidate Murphy, 32, is currently an IT systems engineer. He said his top concern is the growing property tax burden on county residents. To remedy what he calls unpredictable assessments and ever-rising tax bills, he supports moving toward a system based on actual purchase price, with annual increases capped at 2% or inflation.
He said he’d also like to impose tighter control of county spending by reviewing contracts, technology spending and department budgets to identify waste.
There is just one candidate who ran for Cook County clerk: the incumbent, Democrat Monica Gordon.
The clerk administers elections for all suburban Cook County voters. They are responsible for maintaining and providing vital records, like birth, marriage and death certificates. The clerk also handles aspects of the real estate tax process; making available lobbyist registrations and statements of economic interest; and serving as clerk to the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The incumbent, Democrat Thomas Dart, has led the sheriff’s office for 20 years. Libertarian candidate Brad Sandefur, currently a deputy sheriff sergeant for the county, failed to unseat him. After the race was called, Dart was leading with 85.7% to Sandefur’s 14.3% with about 55% of votes counted.
The sheriff is Cook County’s chief law enforcement officer. The sheriff is tasked with running Cook County Jail and providing services and security to county and court facilities. They also oversee the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department, employing more than 6,700 officers, deputies and civilians.
Dart said under his tenure, he transformed the office into one that leads through data-informed strategies. If granted another term, he vowed to expand diversion programs and post-release connections to outside clinical and employment options for those incarcerated in the jail.
Libertarian candidate Sandefur touted his experience both in the sheriff’s office, as well as his training with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as well as his service in the United States Marine Corps. If elected, he said his top issue to tackle is the county’s crime rate. He plans to do so through ending the incarceration of those with autism and other mental health challenges, improving educational opportunities for students and increasing economic opportunities for residents.
Incumbent Democrat Maria Pappas ran unopposed for the treasurer’s seat.
Pappas has run the office since 1998. While running for an eighth term in this election, she is also a candidate in Chicago’s upcoming mayoral race.
The treasurer is responsible for collecting, safeguarding, investing and distributing property tax funds.
Democratic candidate Pat Hynes is up against Libertarian candidate Nico Tsatsoulis in a contest to oversee the assessor’s office. The race was called with about 54% of the vote reported with Hynes leading Tsatsoulis 85.5% to 14.5%.
The assessor’s office is tasked with delivering accurate and transparent assessments of all residential and commercial properties.
Hynes currently oversees the assessor’s office in southwest suburban Lyons Township. If elected, he vows to expand the office’s team of field inspectors and strengthen training for current staff. He also plans to establish a dedicated department of economic development in the office to bring together residents, small businesses and industry leaders.
Opponent and Libertarian candidate Tsatsoulis is currently a real estate manager. This is his third time vying for the assessor’s seat. He has called the property tax system broken, and promises to fix it by capping property taxes to 1% of the market value of homes.
Two of the three Board of Review districts are up for election this year, but in both cases, candidates are running unopposed.
The three-member board hears and decides taxpayer complaints on the assessed value of exempt status of property in Cook County.
Incumbent Democrat George Cardenas ran to keep his seat to oversee District 1, which largely covers both the Northwest and Southwest sides of the county.
Democrat Elizabeth “Liz” Nelson ran to head the Board of Review for District 2, which covers the North side of the county.
Josh Terry contributed reporting.
