As the list of Democrats lining up against Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios grows, the Illinois Republican Party is questioning why J.B. Pritzker is being quiet on the matter.
Berrios has been the subject of scrutiny since a Chicago Tribune investigation into the county's property tax assessment system. The investigation showed how Berrios' office created inequities by undervaluing homes with higher prices and overvaluing homes with lower prices.
Politico reported on Nov. 20 that Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia would endorse Fritz Kaegi, Berrios' election opponent. Earlier, state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Cook County Clerk David Orr were among those who also endorsed Kaegi.
However, the state GOP claimed in a Nov. 20 release that Pritzker, a billionaire who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, has not spoken out on Berrios. The release said Pritzker has been endorsed by the Berrios-chaired Cook County Democratic Party against the requests of some party members and other candidates who wanted no endorsement, the Chicago Tribune reported.
"J.B. Pritzker's silence on Joe Berrios is stunning, but not surprising,” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in the news release. “The Berrios-led Cook County Democrats were one of Pritzker's early backers. Even worse, Pritzker received a $230,000 property tax break from Berrios on his Chicago mansion after ripping out the toilets. It's clear – J.B. Pritzker will do anything to line his pockets and win an election, even if it means supporting corrupt politicians like Joe Berrios."
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