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  "path": "/government-politics/elections/2026/02/19/what-to-know-march-17-primary-cook-county-board-of-review",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-19T19:02:09.178Z",
  "site": "https://www.wbez.org",
  "textContent": "<p></p><h3>What does the Cook County Board of Review do?</h3><p>The Board of Review holds huge power; it decides on appeals of property tax assessments across the county, which includes about 2 million parcels. </p><p>The Board of Review commissioners can effectively cut tax bills for individual homeowners, and in 2024, the agency <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/bears-stadium/2024/11/25/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-lakefront-michael-reese-soldier-field\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>effectively ruled on the taxes</u></a> that the Chicago Bears should have to pay for Arlington Park, where the football team has hoped to build a new stadium.</p><p>The board also has played a role in the dispute over <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/2/7/21126855/donald-trump-tower-chicago-property-tax-appeal-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>the tax bill</u></a> for President Donald Trump’s downtown Chicago skyscraper.</p><h3>Why is Cook County Board of Review commissioner a powerful position?</h3><p>There are just three commissioners on the Board of Review, each representing part of the county. A majority can decide whether to change the initial valuation set by the county assessor. </p><p>The current assessor, Fritz Kaegi, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/other-views/2025/12/15/cook-county-board-of-review-blame-home-property-tax-increase-fritz-kaegi-assessor\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>recently criticized</u></a> the Board of Review, alleging that the commissioners have favored business interests over homeowners, who’ve been hit with rising tax bills. But the Board of Review has <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2025/12/29/cook-county-assessor-board-review-samantha-steele-fritz-kaegi-assisted-suicide-cta-safety\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>fired back</u></a> at Kaegi.</p><p>All three commissioners are Democrats. But two of them, Larry Rogers and George Cardenas, often have clashed with the third member of the panel, Samantha Steele.</p><h3>Who are the incumbents, George Cardenas and Samantha Steele?</h3><p>Cardenas is a former Chicago City Council member and one of two commissioners up for re-election this year. Cardenas has the support of the county’s Democratic organization.</p><p>Steele is seeking a second term after a tumultuous first four years on the Board of Review. She is a former assessor in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, who was <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2024/11/23/cook-county-politician-board-of-review-samantha-steele-chicago-police\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>arrested and charged</u></a> with drunk driving on the North Side of Chicago in 2024. The case is pending.</p><p>The county paid a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.wbez.org/cook-county/2025/01/15/a-former-cook-county-agency-employee-will-get-180-000-in-a-legal-settlement\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>$180,000 settlement</u></a> last year to a former Steele aide who sued in federal court, alleging he faced retaliation as a whistleblower.</p><h3>Who are their challengers, Juanita Irizarry and Liz Nicholson?</h3><p>Irizarry, who is vying to unseat Cardenas, is a longtime activist in the Puerto Rican neighborhoods of Chicago. She is best known for successfully <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2023/12/5/23989834/juanita-irizarry-leaving-friends-of-the-parks-executive-director-lakefront-lucas-museum\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>leading environmentalist opposition</u></a> to plans to build a Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on the lakefront as the head of the Friends of the Parks group.</p><p>Liz Nicholson, Steele’s challenger, was a longtime campaign operative for Illinois Democrats. She was a top adviser for three decades to former state Senate President John Cullerton.</p><p>Irizary and Nicholson are enjoying heavy support from many elected officials, including members of Congress.</p>",
  "title": "What to know about the March 17 primary for the Cook County Board of Review",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-19T21:05:43.765Z"
}