Get Informed - News on the Assessor's office
Progressive Democrat for Assessor Fritz Kaegi carries countywide momentum into Election Day
Progressive Democrat for Assessor Fritz Kaegi carries countywide momentum into Election Day CHICAGO (March 20, 2018)—Campaigning since May of 2017 to bring fairness, ethics, and transparency to the Cook County Assessor's office, progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi...
Kaegi: Berrios’ use of national tragedy for political gain “deplorable and disgusting”
CHICAGO (February 28, 2018)-- Following is a statement from Rebecca Reynolds, campaign manager for Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat challenging embattled incumbent Cook County Tax Assessor Joseph Berrios, in response to Berrios’s dishonest campaign ads regarding...
Aldermen Foulkes, Cardenas, Solis and Muñoz slam incumbent Joe Berrios’s dismal tenure; Endorse Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor
COOK COUNTY (February 21, 2018)--Chicago Aldermen Danny Solis (25) and George Cardenas (12) joined Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22) and Ald. Toni Foulkes (16) to endorse progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi in his race to unseat embattled incumbent Joe Berrios Wednesday. “The...
Democracy for America, Ald. Sadlowski Garza and Congressman Quigley Endorse Progressive Democrat Kaegi for Cook County Assessor
COOK COUNTY (February 8, 2018)--Democracy for America, Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10), and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-5) added their names on Thursday to the growing list of elected and community leaders endorsing progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Tax...
Smear campaign won’t erase Raila’s unprecedented level of fraud
Raila presser sidesteps her direct involvement in fraudulent petition campaign in Assessor’s race COOK COUNTY (February 6, 2018)--In response to former assessor candidate Andrea Raila’s February 6 press conference, Rebecca Reynolds, the campaign manager for...
Electoral Board hearing officer: Raila does not qualify for ballot
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...
Company tied to Joe Berrios sets up bogus website in primary challenger’s name
Written by Dan Mihalopoulos In another wild election year in Illinois, the race involving Joe Berrios has produced the most bizarre whodunit tale — and what may have been the dirtiest trick of this political season. Soon after announcing he would take on Berrios for...
Why renters should care about the Cook County assessor’s race
In a recurring feature, the Reader will conduct 15-minute interviews with candidates running for city, county, state, and federal offices that represent Illinois. First up: Fritz Kaegi, a candidate in the Cook County assessor's race. Former investment analyst Fritz...
“No Show Joe” Berrios can’t run from his track record forever
Berrios skips Sun-Times Editorial Board meeting CHICAGO (January 26, 2018)--Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, candidate for Cook County Assessor, issued a statement on Friday in response to embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios’ absence from the scheduled candidate...
Congressman Bobby Rush Backs Fritz Kaegi for Assessor
CHICAGO (January 26, 2018) - Congressman Bobby Rush (D-1) endorsed progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Tax Assessor on Friday, joining a growing list of Democratic Party leaders rejecting embattled incumbent Joe Berrios. "I stand here today to endorse...
Kaegi: Berrios’ proposed property tax changes are election-time charade
New study does little to address critical issues in assessment process COOK COUNTY (January 25, 2018)--Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat challenging embattled incumbent Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, issued the following statement on Thursday in response to...
Kaegi proposes “common sense” reforms to ease property tax exemption, freeze process for Cook County seniors
Changes to make process simpler for seniors would be first legislative priority COOK COUNTY (January 25, 2018)--Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat challenging embattled incumbent Tax Assessor Joe Berrios in the March 20 primary election, said on Thursday that if...
Citizen Action/Illinois, State’s Largest Public Interest Organization, Backs Assessor Candidate Fritz Kaegi
CHICAGO (January 24, 2018) - Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat running for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, gained the endorsement of Citizen Action/Illinois, the state's largest public interest organization, on Wednesday in his bid to unseat embattled incumbent...
An Insurgent Campaign is Targeting the Very Heart of the Chicago Democratic Machine — And Just Might Win
FOR THE BETTER part of the past four decades, the office in charge of assessing and collecting property taxes in Chicago has been firmly in the grip of the city’s Democratic machine. The process the party has set up is a boon for tax lawyers, who then give heavily to...
County-wide Endorsements Pour In for Democratic Cook County Assessor Candidate Fritz Kaegi
CHICAGO (January 17, 2018) - Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat running for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, earned the endorsements of Chicago City Council Ald. Toni Foulkes (16), the Westside DFA and the Elk Grove Township Democrats on Wednesday, further boosting...
Kaegi Campaign Responds to Latest Berrios Violation
Berrios hit with $41k in fines for violating ethics rules Kaegi camp: Berrios continues to use office as a cash cow for campaign coffers COOK COUNTY (January 10, 2018) - Following is a statement from Rebecca Reynolds, campaign manager for progressive Democrat Fritz...
STATEMENT: Berrios challenge to Kaegi petitions fails
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...
Kaegi Campaign Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Berrios Campaign over Misleading Campaign Ad
COOK COUNTY (January 9, 2018)--In Circuit Court yesterday, legal representatives for progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, candidate for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, filed a defamation lawsuit against current Assessor Joe Berrios and his re-election campaign over...
In new radio ad, Congressman Davis champions Democrat Fritz Kaegi, swats down Berrios smears
CHICAGO (January 6, 2018) - In a new radio ad hitting airwaves today, Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-7) champions progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, an Oak Park resident running for Cook County Assessor, and helps smack down false attacks being pushed by embattled...
Progressive Caucus Chair Waguespack, State Rep. Guzzardi Endorse Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Assessor
CHICAGO (January 4, 2018) - Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat running for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, earned the endorsements of Chicago City Council Progressive Reform Caucus Chair Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) and State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) on...
STATEMENT: Assessor Candidate Kaegi: Berrios’ patronage habit “flagrant and troubling”
COOK COUNTY (December 21, 2017) - Following is a statement from Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat running against embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios in the March 2018 primary election, in response to the latest Chicago Tribune and ProPublica investigative...
STATEMENT: Assessor Candidate Kaegi commits to reform group’s proposed fixes to dysfunctional assessment system
CHICAGO (December 19, 2017)--After a series of investigative reports exposing gross inequity and the lack of accountability in the Cook County Assessor’s Office, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform (ICPR) on Monday issued a set of proposals for repairing the...
STATEMENT: Assessor Candidate Fritz Kaegi warns of devastating implications of GOP tax overhaul for property taxes
COOK COUNTY (December 19, 2017) - Following is a statement from Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat running against incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios in the March 2018 primary election, in response to the impending passage of the GOP tax bill, the largest tax rewrite...
STATEMENT: Berrios sued for racial discrimination; Kaegi responds
COOK COUNTY (December 14, 2017)-Following is a statement from progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, candidate for Cook County Assessor, in response to the news that community and civil rights organizations have filed suit against embattled incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios...
Berrios TV ad slanderous, full of false statements
Berrios TV ad slanderous, full of false statements COOK COUNTY (December 11, 2017)--In response to the slanderous television commercial from the embattled Berrios campaign, progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi’s campaign manager Rebecca Reynolds issued the following...
Members of Congress Kelly, Foster, Davis Endorse Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor
Members of Congress Kelly, Foster, Davis Endorse Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor CHICAGO (December 10, 2017) - Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat running for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, earned the endorsement of Congressmen Danny K....
How the Cook County Assessor Failed Taxpayers
How the Cook County Assessor Failed Taxpayers Joseph Berrios’ error-ridden commercial and industrial assessments punish property owners, benefit lawyers by Jason Grotto and Sandhya Kambhampati / PROPUBLICA December 7, 2017 AMID THE MOST TUMULTUOUS real estate market...
COMMERCIAL BREAKDOWN – A Tribune Investigation Series
COMMERCIAL BREAKDOWN Under Joseph Berrios, assessments of commercial and industrial properties defy logic, punish taxpayers and enrich lawyers By Jason Grotto and Sandhya Kambhampati A Chicago Tribune/ProPublica Illinois collaboration PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 Amid...
Our Revolution Endorses Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Assessor
Progressive Community Group ‘Our Revolution’ Endorses Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Cook County Assessor CHICAGO (November 29, 2017) - Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat running for the Cook County Assessor’s Office, received the endorsement of the state’s largest...
Cook County Assessor Candidate Fritz Kaegi Delivers more than 22,000 Signatures on the First Day of Petition Submissions
Cook County Assessor Candidate Fritz Kaegi Delivers more than 22,000 Signatures on the First Day of Petition Submissions COOK COUNTY (November 27, 2017) - Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, an Oak Park resident challenging incumbent Assessor Joe Berrios, delivered more...
Chuy Garcia, 22nd Ward Organization Endorse Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Cook County Assessor
Chuy Garcia, 22nd Ward Organization Endorse Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Cook County Assessor CHICAGO — (November 20, 2017) — Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Ald. Ricardo Muñoz (22), 22nd Ward Committeeman Michael D. Rodriguez and the Independent...
How Cook County’s Democratic machine works
How Cook County’s Democratic machine works The symbiotic relationship between property-tax lawyers and elected politicians The Economist | Nov 9th 2017 | CHICAGO “WE SUE the city every year,” says a wealthy Chicagoan who lives in an elegant apartment building in Gold...
State Sen. Steans Endorses Progressive Democrat Kaegi for Cook County Assessor
State Sen. Heather Steans Endorses Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor CHICAGO (November 7, 2017) – State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) has endorsed Fritz Kaegi, a progressive Democrat seeking to unseat Joe Berrios in the Cook County...
Cook County Clerk Orr backs Berrios’ challenger in assessor race
Cook County Clerk Orr backs Berrios’ challenger in assessor race, citing 'need to clean up' office By Hal DardickContact Reporter - Chicago Tribune Cook County Clerk David Orr on Thursday endorsed first-time candidate Fritz Kaegi in his Democratic primary bid to oust...
Cook County Clerk David Orr Endorses Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi
Cook County Clerk David Orr Endorses Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi For Cook County Assessor to Replace Incumbent Berrios CHICAGO (October 26, 2017) - Today, the campaign of progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, an Oak Park resident seeking the role of Cook County...
Cook County Candidate Wants To Find ID Of Online Imposter-Law360
Cook County Candidate Wants To Find ID Of Online Imposter By Hannah Meisel Law360, Springfield (October 18, 2017, 9:44 PM EDT) — The man challenging the powerful head of the Cook County Democratic Party for the office of county assessor wants to know who is behind the...
South Side Democracy for America endorses Fritz Kaegi for Assessor
For Immediate Release: October 10, 2017 South Side Democracy for America endorses Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor COOK COUNTY(10.9.17)– Progressive Democratic candidate for Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi received the endorsement on Tuesday of South Side...
Cook County assessor candidate Kaegi calls for fairness, transparency
Cook County assessor candidate Kaegi calls for fairness, transparency By Kevin Beese Staff reporter — October 4, 2017 Fritz Kaegi remembers growing up in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood in the ‘80s and there being progressive activism in the air. Playing baseball in...
Progressive Dem Kaegi, Challenging Berrios, Gains Momentum with Endorsements
Progressive Democrat Fritz Kaegi, Challenging Berrios, Gains Momentum with Endorsements Fritz Kaegi, the progressive Democrat challenging embattled incumbent Joe Berrios for Cook County Assessor, announced on Monday his endorsement by prominent progressive Democrats...
Northside DFA endorses Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor
Media Advisory For Immediate Release: September 14, 2017 Northside DFA endorses Fritz Kaegi for Cook County Assessor COOK COUNTY, IL (9.14.17)– Progressive Democratic candidate for Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is proud to have received...
