Claypool Accuses Berrios Of Pay-To-Play In Assessor Race
CHICAGO (CBS) - Pay-to-play is a new charge being leveled in the increasingly nasty race for Cook County Assessor.
The independent candidate, Forrest Claypool, says his opponent, Democrat Joe Berrios, a member of the County Board of Tax Review has been giving tax breaks to his campaign contributors.
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Claypool laid out what he calls the Cook County map of clout: showing reductions in assessments for building owners whose tax attorneys donated to Berrios' campaign.
"Joe Berrios reduced billions, yes, billions in value for property all across Cook County," said Claypool. "That means millions of dollars in taxes won't be collected from these clout-heavy businesses. That means millions of dollars in taxes will be shifted onto the backs of homeowners and businesses without clout."
For example, the Willis Tower. According to Claypool, its assessment was reduced by nearly $10.5 million in 2009. The tax firm that represents it donated nearly $61,000 to Berrios.
The Chicago Board of Trade: Claypool's camp says it received a reduction in assessments of more than $15 million, while its tax firm gave $7,500 to Berrios.
And the Smurfit-Stone Building was assessed for nearly $11 million less, for a campaign donation of about $146,000.
Claypool says nearly 92 percent of Berrios' donors got lower assessments for their clients. He calls it a costly conflict of interest.
"Joe Berrios takes millions from the very attorneys who are arguing these cases before him and whose judgment he sits. And that is absolutely wrong," said Claypool.
Berrios refused our repeated attempts for an on-camera interview, instead issuing this statement: "It's almost laughable because he obviously doesn't know how the office operates. The Assessor sets the assessments."
Berrios also rejected the notion that he alone grants appeals at the Board of Review, adding, "There are three commissioners. We don't do this alone."
