Illinois Review

Cook County Dems endorse slate backed by SEIU/ACORN

You've got to admit, these guys have guts. The Cook County Democrats' slate of endorsed candidates has been announced by none other than Joseph Berrios, the longtime head of Cook County's Board of Review, Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, lobbyist at the State Capitol for over twelve major entities and reportedly being investigated by the feds. See Illinois Review's ongoing investigation into the Berrios family's audacious political activities.

Anyway, the Cook County Democrats are moving ahead, proudly declaring their 2010 slate, stating:

"Today's endorsement session puts forward a strong, diverse slate of candidates," said Joseph Berrios, chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party. "These candidates are highly qualified, responsive and above all, pledged to the public trust."

"Pledged to the public trust"? More like pledged to getting the support of SEIU/ACORN. Except for a couple, the Democrats' slated candidates have received SEIU/ACORN money.

Berrios face-slapped again

Ouch.  Joseph Berrios, Cook County's Democratic Party leader, Board of Review commissioner, 31st Ward Committeeman, high stakes lobbyist for coin operators, liquor commission, RTA and other lucrative client relationships, will most certainly get his party's endorsement this week to run for Cook County Assessor. Heck, no one else is running for the slot.  Not even among the Republicans.

So you've got to wonder exactly what the Sun-Times and the Tribune are thinking this week.  Yesterday the Sun-Times slapped Berrios, pointing out how conflicted Berrios business and political interests are, suggesting the Cook County Democratic organization refuse to endorse their very own chairman this week for his new quest -- to be Cook County Assessor.  Where did the sudden interest in accountability come from? (See IR's ongoing Berrios posts HERE)

Then today, the Tribune stings Berrios' other side with yet another run-down of his conflicted interests, point by point:

Fox News targets Berrios

Fox News Chicago has picked up on the Illinois Review story about the Joe and Toni Berrios activities. See post HERE. Below is the Fox News story that ran last night.

State contractors hire Madigan's law firm

The Sun-Times is reporting that over the past nine years, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's law firm has made $171,000 by seeking property tax breaks for developers who get state financing to build low-income housing.

Records also show the firm of Madigan & Getzendanner helped another state contractor save about $300,000 in property taxes on the Atrium Mall and food court it operates inside the James R. Thompson Center, the state's main office building in Chicago.

More here.

Joe and Toni Berrios – the circle of ‘Democrat’ life

If you don’t know the name Joe Berrios, you should. He’s one of a handful of seriously clout-heavy players who have been at the center of the Illinois Democrat machine for decades. A former State Representative, Berrios is currently:

• Chairman, Cook County Democrat Party
• Committeeman, Chicago 31st Ward
• Commissioner, Cook County Board of Review
• Candidate, Cook County Assessor
• Owner/operator, J.B. Insurance, an insurance brokerage
• Founder/Partner, B-P [Berrios-Panayotovich] Consulting/lobbying firm
• Father of Democrat State Rep. Antonia 'Toni' Berrios

So, what does this all mean? Well, let’s try and connect the dots.

Questions about campaign donations and Board of Review continue

In the 2008 primary, Democratic challenger Jay Paul Deratany raised questions about Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios inappropriately receiving campaign contributions from attorneys who argued before him and the other two commissioners on the Cook County Board of Review. Berrios has recently been in Fox News Chicago's spotlight with similar questions involving State Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg) and local political operative Victor Santana.  

During the 2008 Democratic primary, a northwest suburban group held a forum in which no holds were barred and the audience raised questions about political favors and Board of Review tax assessment appeals. The Des Plaines Times wrote on January 30, 2008 how Democrat operative Thomas Jaconetty defended Commissioner Berrios' campaign donation sources:

"Anyone has a right to contribute to a campaign. They may be homeowners or business operators who feel they were fairly treated or that the system is efficient and effective. This is America," Jaconetty said.

Flashback 2008: Deratany's attack ad on Berrios

Back during the February 2008 Democratic primary, Chicago attorney Jay Paul Deratany blasted fellow Democrat Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios with political corruption allegations and for at least $12,500 in campaign donations to help Todd Stroger succeed his father in ruling the Cook County Board.

Deratany's challenge was backed by Berrios Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan and endorsed by both the Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times. Berrios spent an unprecedented $1 million in 2008 to defend his seat on the Board of Review. Despite all the hoopla over Chicago's Barack Obama running to be the Democratic presidential nominee, one of Deratany's ads sparked interest in Berrios' overall-ignored, but now-focused-upon Board of Review post:

More to come on the Board of Review on Illinois Review.

Questions about Cook County assessment favoritism nothing new

Recent questions about the Cook County Board of Review's property assessment appeals process and possible links to campaign donations aren't new for Democrat State Rep. Paul Froehlich. The issue was front-and-center in the 2008 Democratic primary.

In a January 18, 2008 Chicago Sun-Times column, Neil Steinberg wrote about an inner party squabble among Democrats on Cook County's Board of Review. Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios was challenged in the '08 Democratic primary by Democrat attorney Jay Paul Deratany, who was backed by Democrat Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan. Steinberg asked Deratany why Berrios should be defeated after nearly two decades of service. His answer:

"I'm disgusted with the fact that he gives tax breaks to certain people who appear before him. ...Lawyers who donate money to him, they seem to win huge breaks for huge corporations that don't need breaks. At the same time homeowners have had 300 and 400 percent increases over the past five years and that is going to push the fixed-income people, the middle-income people, the retirees, out of the city. I think this is sickening."