CHICAGO (January 9, 2018) – Following is a statement from Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat challenging embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios, after Berrios’ challenge to Kaegi’s ballot petition signatures failed on Tuesday:
“Today, as we expected, a hearing officer recommended that the Berrios campaign’s challenge to our ballot petition signatures be overruled, and the Berrios campaign, as a result, ended its efforts.
“These developments inject our campaign with additional momentum as we seek to clean up the Cook County Assessor’s office and provide a fairer, less regressive property tax assessment for all. I am thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who donated their time and talents to ensure our campaign remained on the ballot.“Now we can focus on providing working families with a property tax assessment system that is not rooted in corruption, nepotism and pay-to-play politics. For far too long, taxpayers in the county have had their needs become secondary to Berrios’ lining of his pockets and those of his political allies.”
The news comes after a new wave of endorsements from Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus Chair Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) and State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago), a new supportive radio ad from Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-7) and a BGA/Politifact fact check that swats down rumors perpetuated by the Berrios campaign.
###