Matt Podgorski | Courtesy photo
Matt Podgorski | Courtesy photo
Northwest Side GOP Club founder Matt Podgorski is making an early splash in his run to replace retiring 9th District Cook County Commissioner Pete Silvestri.
"Already out of the gate and the early frontrunner is Matt Podgorski,” political analyst Russ Stewart posted on his blog.
Boasting endorsements from 41st Ward Republican Committeeman Ammie Kessem, 41st Ward Alderman Anthony Napolitano, 38th Ward Republican Committeeman Chuck Hernandez, National Republican Committeeman Richard Porter, Chairman - Cook County Republican Party Sean Morrison, and former Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Dan Patlak, Podgorski is reported to have in excess of $100,000 in campaign contributions on the strength of a platform of public safety and tax reform.
Podgorski is running as part of the Team Griffin slate headed by billionaire Ken Griffin.
The 9th District includes 226 precincts, 67 in Chicago and 159 in the suburbs.
On his website, Podgorski posts, “I am vehemently opposed to any effort to defund the police. I am committed to prioritizing and fully funding the CC Sheriff’s Office. Cuts can and should be made in other departments, but safety must come first.”
On the subject of taxes, he posted “I will fight for property tax reform. Our property taxes are the 2nd highest in the nation due to a broken system. Property tax amounts and rates should be set, then the budgets made to fit within that amount, not the other way around.”
Podgorski vows to oppose any new taxes or tax increases by the County Board, adding “we do not have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem.”
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