Kaegi looks to challenge Berrios head to head in March primary

COOK COUNTY (February 5, 2018)–A Cook County Electoral Board hearing officer concluded on Monday that Assessor candidate Andrea Raila has not met the legal threshold of valid petition signatures to qualify to appear on the March 20 Democratic primary ballot. As such, progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi is preparing to challenge embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios head on.

“The Cook County Electoral Board conducted a professional, thorough and fair process that culminated in the decision this morning, based on what they viewed as ‘clear and convincing evidence,’” said Rebecca Reynolds, campaign manager for Kaegi. “We look forward to continuing to focus squarely on defeating Joe Berrios, because the voters deserve an Assessor who operates fairly, transparently and professionally–and that’s what’s at stake in this election.”

A financial analyst with an MBA from Stanford University, Kaegi has been endorsed by Congressmen Danny K. Davis, Bill Foster, Robin Kelly and Bobby Rush, Cook County Clerk David Orr, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Our Revolution, among others. Kaegi managed the $5 billion Columbia Acorn Fund and the Columbia Acorn Emerging Markets Fund at Columbia Wagner Asset Management for 13 years.  Previously, he worked at Morningstar and Brunswick UBS in equity research. Kaegi is a partner and investment committee member at Social Venture Partners Chicago, which provides the financial backing and capacity-building resources of its partners to Chicago nonprofits fighting the cycle of poverty. He lives in Oak Park with their three children.

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