In the heated race for the Cook County Board of Review, incumbent Larry Rogers Jr., who's seeking a sixth term, faces a significant challenge from Larecia Tucker, amid accusations of unethical practices. As the March Democratic primary looms, Rogers finds himself embroiled in controversy over campaign contributions from those with vested interests in property tax appeals -- a sector that repeatedly finds itself before the board he helps lead.
Rogers' campaign has heavily relied on donations from the property tax industry, with the Chicago Tribune reporting that in just the past year, he has raised $135,000, representing 60% of his total contributions. Notably, among his backers is attorney Matthew Tully, representing the Chicago Bears in a dispute over the team's potential new stadium site. This confluence of money and influence caught the attention of ethics officials in 2018 when Rogers had to return $48,750 in excess contributions.
His main adversary, Tucker, backed by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, is capitalizing on the alleged conflict of interest. Kaegi, who has had a longstanding feud with Rogers, has donated $385,000 to a political fund squarely aimed at Tucker's campaign, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Tucker decries the ethics of Rogers staffers handling cases involving his half-brother, Frederic Everly, a former employee turned tax appeals lawyer, branding it as an undeniable conflict of interest. Rogers, for his part, claims the real ethical problem is Kaegi's involvement in the race, alleging it undermines the board's independence.
Amid this back-and-forth, the Board of Review's influence on Cook County residents cannot be overstated. The board recently issued a ruling on the Arlington Park tax bill, which saw commissioners Rogers and George Cardenas offering the Chicago Bears a reduced assessment than wanted, while Commissioner Samantha Steele, siding more with Kaegi and local school districts, pushed for a smaller reduction. Tucker intimated to the Chicago Sun-Times that she would have sided with Steele, showing a clear divide on policy and practice within the board.
Rogers defends the integrity of his office, asserting his reliance on a team of analysts to handle the appeals without interference from him or his campaign contributors. Yet, this assertion lacks formal policies to back it. Tucker and Kaegi remain critical, pointing to the Office of the Independent Inspector General's recommendation that commissioners avoid accepting contributions from attorneys and litigants appearing before them -- a suggestion the board did not adopt. Despite the ethical clouds, Rogers is receiving strong Democratic Party support, with Mayor Brandon Johnson slated to speak at an upcoming Rogers fundraiser, while Tucker, promising not to take money from the tax appeals bar, continues to amass support from reform-minded entities, including the Cook County assessor himself.
