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'''Joseph "Joe" Berrios''' (born February 14, 1952) is the [[Assessor (property)|Assessor]] of [[Cook County, Illinois]]. Berrios is a [[lobbyist]] to [[Government of Illinois|Illinois state government]] who became the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve in the [[Illinois General Assembly]], and the first and only Hispanic American to lead the [[Cook County Democratic Organization|Democratic Party of Cook County]].
'''Joseph "Joe" Berrios''' (born February 14, 1952) is the [[Assessor (property)|Assessor]] of [[Cook County, Illinois]]. Berrios is a [[lobbyist]] to [[Government of Illinois|Illinois state government]] who became the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve in the [[Illinois General Assembly]], and the first and only Hispanic American to lead the [[Cook County Democratic Organization|Democratic Party of Cook County]]. Berrios "shines as a vivid example of the clout-infested politics for which Illinois is famous" according to a 2010 ''[[Chicago Magazine]]'' profile. ''[[Crain's Chicago Business]]'' called Berrios "a walking conflict of interest." Berrios shamelessly hired relatives and friends to government jobs under his control, complemented elected office with a private lobbying practice, used ballot access law to political advantage, and vigorously defended accepting campaign contributions from those doing business with his elected office.


== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
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==Early political career==
==Early political career==


Berrios started off as a [[precinct captain]] in the 31st Ward organization of Chicago Mayor [[Richard J. Daley]]'s chief City Council ally, Alderman Thomas Keane, which commanded a formidable [[patronage]] army of city, county, and state workers.<ref name=rent/> Keane`s reign as the Council's most powerful alderman ended in October, 1974, when he was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy for using his public position to profit from illegal real estate deals. He handed his Council seat to his wife, Adeline, and his [[committeeman]]'s post, a Democratic Party position, to Edward Nedza, who had held various city jobs since 1960.<ref name=master>{{cite news |title=Nedza, Kuta Learned Politics From Master |date=1987-03-17 |first=John |last=Camper |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-03-17/news/8702010613_1_ward-organization-mayor-jane-byrne-chicago-city-council}}</ref> Berrios was a political protege of Nedza. In 1978 Nedza won the [[Illinois]] state Senate seat from the 5th Senate district, which encompasses the [[Humboldt Park, Chicago|Humboldt Park]] neighborhood of [[Chicago]], and much of the 31st ward. Nedza, a [[Polish-American]], recognized the growing [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] population in his district, and groomed Hispanics within the Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hispanic movement takes cue from past |last1=Galvan |first1=Manuel |last2=Smith |first2=Wes |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1986-03-09 |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-03-09/news/8601170954_1_wards-hispanics-political}}</ref>
Berrios started off as a [[precinct captain]] in the 31st Ward organization.


==Illinois State Representative, 1982–1988==
==Illinois State Representative, 1982–1988==
===Campaign===


In the resolution of a federal suit brought by Chicago area [[Latino]] groups citing the 1980 United States [[census]], a United States federal court panel ordered a new legislative district map for the [[Illinois General Assembly]] that gave [[Hispanics]] a majority in two [[Illinois House of Representatives]] districts in [[Chicago]]: the 9th, which is predominantly [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]], and the 20th, which is predominantly [[Mexican people|Mexican]]. Berrios, then chief clerk of the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Board of (Tax) Appeals, was one of three candidates who filed to run in the Democratic primary in the 9th district, but the other two were removed from the ballot after challenges to their nominating petitions. No candidate ran in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary. Berrios ran unopposed in the general election, and at the age of 30 became the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve in the [[Illinois General Assembly]].<ref name=microscope>{{cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein |title=Joseph Berrios, Candidate for Cook County Assessor: Under the Microscope |work=[[Chicago Magazine]] |date=2010-10 |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Joseph-Berrios-Candidate-for-Cook-County-Assessor-and-the-Ultimate-Political-Insider/index.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No opponent for Hispanic candidate: CAMPAIGN '82 |last=Galvan |first=Manuel |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1982-05-10}}</ref><ref name>{{cite web |title=A Troubling Assessment of Insider Joseph Berrios |publisher=[http://www.bettergov.org/ Better Government Association] |url=http://www.bettergov.org/a_troubling_assessment_of_insider_joseph_berrios/ |date=2010-08-30}}</ref>
In the resolution of a federal suit brought by Chicago area [[Latino]] groups citing the 1980 United States [[census]], a United States federal court panel ordered a new legislative district map for the [[Illinois General Assembly]] that gave [[Hispanics]] a majority in two [[Illinois House of Representatives]] districts in [[Chicago]]: the 9th, which is predominantly [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]], and the 20th, which is predominantly [[Mexican people|Mexican]]. Berrios, then chief clerk of the [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] Board of (Tax) Appeals, was one of three candidates who filed to run in the Democratic primary in the 9th district, but the other two were removed from the ballot after challenges to their nominating petitions. No candidate ran in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] primary. Berrios ran unopposed in the general election, and at the age of 30 became the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve in the [[Illinois General Assembly]].<ref name=microscope>{{cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein |title=Joseph Berrios, Candidate for Cook County Assessor: Under the Microscope |work=[[Chicago Magazine]] |date=2010-10 |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Joseph-Berrios-Candidate-for-Cook-County-Assessor-and-the-Ultimate-Political-Insider/index.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No opponent for Hispanic candidate: CAMPAIGN '82 |last=Galvan |first=Manuel |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1982-05-10}}</ref><ref name>{{cite web |title=A Troubling Assessment of Insider Joseph Berrios |publisher=[http://www.bettergov.org/ Better Government Association] |url=http://www.bettergov.org/a_troubling_assessment_of_insider_joseph_berrios/ |date=2010-08-30}}</ref>

===Report from the Coalition for Political Honesty===

Berrios and Nedza were among 21 Illinois state legislators criticised in a report for holding a second, taxpayer-salaried government job in addition to their salary as a state legislator. Berrios drew salaries as both a state legislator and a deputy to a Commissioner on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals. The report was issued in December, 1985 by the Coalition for Political Honesty, founded by then Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals Commissioner [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]] (later governor of Illinois).<ref>{{cite news |title=State 'double dippers' blasted |first=John |last=Kass |authorlink=John Kass |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1985-12-16 |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-12-16/news/8503270021_1_metropolitan-sanitary-district-patrick-quinn-chicago-city-council-committee}}</ref>

==31st ward Democratic committeeman, 1987–1988, 1992–==

In March, 1987 then former State Sen. Edward Nedza, Berrios' mentor was indicted in a federal investigation of bribes allegedly paid to city licensing officials.<ref name=master/> In April, 1987 Nedza resigned his position as [[committeeman]] of the 31st ward in Chicago and named Berrios as his replacement. In August, 1987, Nedza was convicted on federal charges of using his political office for illegal financial gain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nedza's fate mirrors his mentor's |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=1987-08-14 |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-08-14/news/8703020056_1_senate-salary-alderman-mayor-harold-washington}}</ref>

Berrios allied with Alderman [[Edward Vrdolyak]], Chicago Mayor [[Harold Washington]]'s nemesis, during the [[Council Wars]] era. In 1987 Raymond Figueroa, with Washington's backing, beat Berrios's candidate for alderman, Miguel Santiago. A year later Figueroa beat Berrios for committeeman. In 1991 Figueroa decided not to run for reelection as alderman, and he left the committeeman's job the following year and Berrios regained the committeeman's role.<ref name=rent>{{cite news |title=Who'll Keep Your Rent Down Now? In the Cook County assessor's race: the insider, the outsider, or the guy with no phone? |first=Ben |last=Joravsky |date=2010-01-14 |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/joe-berrios-raymond-figueroa-robert-shaw-cook-county-assessor-election/Content?oid=1317832}}</ref>


==Chairman, Democratic Party of Cook County, 2007–==
==Chairman, Democratic Party of Cook County, 2007–==


The Democratic committeemen of Cook County, in the February 1 meeting, overseen by Illinois House Speaker and Illinois Democratic Party chairman [[Michael J. Madigan]],<ref name=resign/> elected Berrios as their chairman. Berrios was the first Hispanic to hold the unpaid party position.<ref>{{cite news |title=Democrats elect a new chief; County party names 1st Hispanic leader |date=2007-02-02 |first=Mickey |last=Ciokajlo |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-02-02/news/0702020184_1_democratic-party-democratic-chairman-democratic-committeeman}}</ref>
Thomas G. Lyons was a veteran 45th Ward committeeman who served as a lawmaker, lawyer and lobbyist and headed the [[Cook County Democratic Organization|Democratic Party of Cook County]] for nearly 17 years.<ref name=obit/> Lyons announced his retirement on January 9, 2007. Democrats scheduled a February 1 meeting in Chicago to fill the vacancy.<ref name=resign>{{cite news |title=Democrat leader Lyons to resign next month |date=2007-01-10 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-01-10/news/0701100120_1_resign-cook-county-democratic-party-post-next-month}}</ref> Lyons died Friday, January 12, 2007, at age 75 in an [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]] nursing home.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |title=Thomas G. Lyons: 1931 - 2007; Leader of Cook County Democrats; Long political career included work as 45th Ward committeeman, lawmaker, lawyer and lobbyist |date=2007-01-14 |first1=Rick |last1=Pearson |first2=Charles |last2=Sheehan |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-01-14/news/0701140234_1_mr-lyons-thomas-g-lyons-cook-county-democratic-party}}</ref> The Democratic committeemen of Cook County, in the February 1 meeting, overseen by Illinois House Speaker and Illinois Democratic Party chairman [[Michael J. Madigan]],<ref name=resign/> elected Berrios, a close Madigan ally, as their chairman. Berrios was the first Hispanic to hold the unpaid party position.<ref>{{cite news |title=Democrats elect a new chief; County party names 1st Hispanic leader |date=2007-02-02 |first=Mickey |last=Ciokajlo |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-02-02/news/0702020184_1_democratic-party-democratic-chairman-democratic-committeeman}}</ref>


== Commissioner on Cook County Board of Review, 1988–2010 ==
== Commissioner on Cook County Board of Review, 1988–2010 ==


First elected in 1988, Berrios was paid $56,000 a year for his work on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, later renamed the Cook County Board of Review. In October 1990, Berrios added a part-time job as a legislative aide to his political ally, Democratic State Rep. Miguel Santiago. The job paid him nearly $10,000 over the next two years. Berrios held the position while serving as a member of the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals. Also while working at the tax appeals board, Berrios worked as a Springfield lobbyist and a consultant, sometimes teaming up with his longtime business partner, Sam Panayotovich.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hunt For 'Ghosts' Goes Beyond City |date=1995-02-24 |first=Ray |last=Gibson |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-24/news/9502240328_1_tax-appeals-board-santiago-payroll-records}}</ref>
First elected in 1988, Berrios was paid $56,000 a year for his work on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, later renamed the Cook County Board of Review.

Berrios took dozens of meetings in 2009 in the Commissioner's 6th floor office in the County Building in downtown Chicago with his business partners, campaign fund-raisers, Democratic ward committeemen and other political operatives. Illinois law prohibits conducting political and personal business on government time or using government facilities.<ref name=microscope/><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe's Time, Our Dime? Is Berrios conducting political and personal business on government time? |work=[[Chicago Magazine]] |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Is-Joe-Berrios-Conducting-Personal-Business-on-Government-Time/ |last1=[http://www.bettergov.org Better Government Association] |last2=[[Chicago Magazine]] |date=2010-10}}</ref>

=== Hiring relatives and friends ===

While Commissioner, Berrios' sister, sister-in-law, son and daughter worked for the county at annual salaries ranging from $48,000 to $86,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Assessor candidates on the defensive; In debate, Berrios challenged about relatives on government payroll |date=2010-10-18 |first=Hal |last=Dardick |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-18/news/ct-met-cook-county-assessor-debate-20101018_1_assessor-candidates-democrat-joe-berrios-relatives |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> "Let me see, one, two, three … yeah, four,” Berrios told the [[Associated Press]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Race For Obscure Post Tests Chicago-Style Politics |date=2010-10-30 |first=Don |last=Babwin |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/30/race-for-obscure-post-tests-chicago-style-politics/ |publisher=[http://www.ap.org/ Associated Press] |work=[http://chicago.cbslocal.com/ CBS 2 Chicago]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Race For Obscure Post Tests Chicago-Style Politics |date=2010-10-30 |url=http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2004344 |work=[http://www.wlsam.com/ WLS 890 AM] |publisher=[http://www.ap.org/ Associated Press]}}</ref> Berrios also hired, as a deputy chief commissioner, [[election law]] attorney Thomas Jaconetty, who with Berrios had been a [[precinct captain]] in the 31st Ward under Alderman Keane.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Demotion That Makes No Difference |first=Ben |last=Joravsky |date=2006-12-18 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2006/12/18/the-demotion-that-makes-no-difference |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]]}}</ref> Jaconetty wrote the chapter on [[ballot access]] in the courseware of the [http://www.iicle.com/ Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education].<ref>{{cite news |date=2009-11-17 |title=Petition challenge hearings begin: The 'gotcha' game is afoot |first=Eric |last=Zorn |authorlink=Eric Zorn |url=http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2009/11/now-its-time-for-the-game-of-gotcha.html |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> Berrios responded to criticisms of his hiring of relatives and friends, saying "What you're basically saying is that Joe Berrios should get out of politics. If my brothers or whoever wants to come and work in government, they shouldn't be allowed to work in government. If you want to pass a law that says one individual is in government, then none of their friends or relatives can work in government, then you should pass that law."<ref>{{cite news |title=Candidate Forum: Cook County Assessor |url=http://video.wttw.com/video/1618690718 |work=[http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/ Chicago Tonight] |publisher=[http://www.wttw.com WTTW] |date=2010-10-08}}</ref>

=== Campaign contributions from property tax appeal lawyers ===

Commissioner Berrios regularly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in campaign cash from lawyers who specialize in property tax appeals.<ref>{{cite news |first=Greg Hinz |title=Cook County assessor shouldn't collect campaign cash from property tax law firms |work=[http://www.chicagobusiness.com Crain's Chicago Business] |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20100123/ISSUE05/100032941/cook-county-assessor-shouldnt-collect-campaign-cash-from-property-tax-law-firms |date=2010-01-25}}</ref> Berrios has five personal political funds, not including the one for the [[Cook County Democratic Organization|Democratic Party of Cook County]], which he also controls. Berrios collected more than $3 million in political contributions between 2000 and 2010.<ref name=friendly>{{cite news |title=Cook County Campaign Contribution Limits to Board of Review Not Being Enforced; THE FRIENDLY BAR: A county effort to cap campaign donations by property tax attorneys turns out to be toothless |first=David |last=Bernstein |work=[[Chicago Magazine]] |date=2010-10 |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Cook-County-Campaign-Contribution-Limits-to-Board-of-Review-Not-Being-Enforced/}}</ref> Donations from property tax appeal lawyers accounted for 64 percent of the campaign contributions raised by Berrios between 2000 and 2010. Roughly one-third of Mr. Berrios’s campaign money between 2000 and 2010 came from the 15 law firms that gained the most for their clients from the property tax appeal panel between 2006 and 2008. Together, those top firms contributed almost $1 million to six political committees controlled by Mr. Berrios and to his daughter, Illinois State Representative [[Maria Antonia Berrios]], Democrat of Chicago. Several of the firms that saved their clients the most money through appeals to the board have strong political connections. From 2006 to 2008, the tax appeal law firm that received the biggest breaks for their clients was that of [[Michael J. Madigan]], the Illinois House speaker, a Chicago Democrat and a close ally of Berrios. Other firms among those winning the biggest breaks for their clients included the firm of Patrick J. Cullerton, brother of [[John Cullerton]], the president of the Illinois Senate, and the firm of Alderman [[Edward M. Burke|Edward Burke]] of the 14th Ward in Chicago. At the same time, Berrios moonlighted as a [[lobbyist]] in Illinois state government for such causes as legalizing [[video poker]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Assessor Candidate Benefits From Property Tax Lawyers |first1=Dan Last1=Mihalopoulos |first2=Darnell |last2=Little |work=[http://www.nytimes.com New York Times] |date=2010-01-29 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/us/29cncassessor.html}}</ref>


==Cook County Assessor, 2010–==
==Cook County Assessor, 2010–==
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===Campaign===
===Campaign===


Cook County [[Assessor (property)|Assessor]] James Houlihan announced that he would not seek re-election in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |date=2009-08-06 |title=Cook County Assessor James Houlihan won't seek re-election |first=Hal |last=Dardick |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/08/cook-county-assessor-james-houlihan-wont-seek-reelection.html}}</ref> Within hours, Berrios said he planned to announce his candidacy for assessor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County Assessor James Houlihan Announces He Won't Run Again |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/wgnam-houlihan-no-relection-080609,0,2228417.story |agency=WGN-AM |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2009-08-06}}</ref> On February 2, 2010 Berrios won the three-way with 39% of the votes.
Cook County [[Assessor (property)|Assessor]] James Houlihan announced that he would not seek re-election in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |date=2009-08-06 |title=Cook County Assessor James Houlihan won't seek re-election |first=Hal |last=Dardick |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/08/cook-county-assessor-james-houlihan-wont-seek-reelection.html}}</ref> Within hours, Berrios said he planned to announce his candidacy for assessor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County Assessor James Houlihan Announces He Won't Run Again |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/wgnam-houlihan-no-relection-080609,0,2228417.story |agency=WGN-AM |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2009-08-06}}</ref> On February 2, 2010 Berrios won the three-way Democratic primary<ref name=rent/> with 39% of the vote, in a primary with the lowest turn-out since 1958.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County assessor, Chicago Tribune Election Center |url=http://primaries2010.elections.chicagotribune.com/race/cook-county-assessor/ |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=[http://www.nytimes.com/ New York Times] |title=An Election Sets a Record, and Not a Good One |first=James |last=Warren |authorlink=James Warren (journalist) |date=2010-02-11 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/us/politics/12cncwarren.html}}</ref>

''[[Chicago Magazine]]'' described Berrios in a 2010 profile as "a consummate insider in [[Illinois#Politics|Illinois politics]], a member of the fraternity of the well connected who are in positions to manage the system to their advantage" and wrote that Berrios "shines as a vivid example of the [[Political power|clout]]-infested politics for which [[Illinois]] is famous."<ref name=microscope/> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' editorial board described Berrios as "a terrible candidate for the powerful office of assessor"<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |title=Stroger and Berrios |date=2010-05-12 |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-05-12/news/ct-edit-stroger-20100512_1_todd-stroger-county-board-president-joseph-berrios}}</ref> and called the Democratic Party of Cook County's slating of Berrios for Assessor a "miserable mistake," citing "his disregard for basic ethical principles" and "patent conflicts of interest."<ref>{{cite news |title=Assessor Insider |date=2009-09-10 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-09-10/news/0909090500_1_property-tax-assessment-clients}}</ref> The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' editorial board called the slating a "tragedy," describing Berrios as "a fine example, in fact, of why Illinois needs serious campaign finance reform with teeth in it," and citing Berrios' lack of transparency on the Board of Review, his record of hiring family and friends, and his "cozy" relationship with Madigan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tomorrow's tragedy: Berrios as assessor |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=2009-09-08}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]]'' editorial board called Berrios "the very antithesis of what the office needs."<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-01-23 |title=For Cook County assessor, Democratic: Figueroa |work=[http://www.dailyherald.com/ Daily Herald] |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100123/discuss/301239961/}}</ref>

Cook County Commissioner [[Forrest Claypool]] filed nominating petitions to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for assessor. Claypool filed petitions with more than 90,000 signatures, even though only 25,000 were needed, in keeping with advice from experts who recommend getting three times as many signatures as needed to withstand any petition challenge.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-21 |title=Claypool files paperwork to get in Cook County assessor race |first=Hal |last=Dardick |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/06/claypool-files-paperwork-to-get-in-cook-county-assessor-race.html}}</ref> To examine Claypool's nominating petitions, Berrios retained a team of Illinois' most experienced election law attorneys, including his long-time aide and assistant commissioner Jaconetty, Michael Kasper, Burt Odelson, Richard Means, and Jim Nally.<ref>{{cite news |title=He Doesn’t Have to Outrun the Bear; Would-be assessor Joe Berrios doesn't have to win over taxpayers. He just has to keep Forrest Claypool off the ballot |first=Ben |last=Joravsky |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]] |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/gyrobase/joe-berrios-forrest-claypool-cook-county-assessor-ballot-signatures/Content?oid=1742697 |date=2010-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Challenges Loom for Claypool Signatures |first=Dan |last=Mihalopoulus |date=2010-06-21 |url=http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/challenges-loom-for-claypool-signatures/ |publisher=[http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/ Chicago News Cooperative]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Preparing for a Challenge in the Race for Assessor |first=James |last=Warren |authorlink=James Warren (journalist) |date=2010-05-28 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/us/28cncwarren.html |work=[http://www.nytimes.com/ New York Times]}}</ref> Even after Berrios claimed 53,000 signatures were "suspect" and 6,000 more were ineligible because of questions about the person circulating the petition, that left plenty for Claypool, and Berrios declined to formally challenge the petitions.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-06-29 |title=Berrios drops challenge to Claypool's independent run |first=Ted |last=Cox |work=[http://www.dailyherald.com/ Daily Herald] |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100629/news/306299938/}}</ref> Claypool fell far behind Berrios in the November, 2010 general election, explaining that he just didn’t get enough suburban support to top Berrios's Democratic organization in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news |title=Preckwinkle, Berrios Cruise To Victories in Cook County |first=Jim |last=Kirk |date=2010-10-02 |url=http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/preckwinkle-berrios-cruise-to-victories-in-cook-county/ |publisher=[http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/ Chicago News Cooperative]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2010-11-02 |title=Claypool concedes, Berrios winner in Cook County assessor race |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/11/joe-berrios-forrest-claypool-cook-county-assessor.html}}</ref>

=== County Board of Ethics investigations ===

==== Campaign fundraising in excess of County limits ====

On Monday morning, September 13, 2010, while Berrios was at a campaign fundraising breakfast,<ref name=questions/> the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board met and Commissioners approved a host of reform and ethics regulations, including a measure that required candidates for assessor or the Board of Review to return contributions of more than $1,500 in an election cycle from lawyers who appeal tax assessments, and another measure that barred public officials from conducting any type of political activity while on the county clock or using county resources, such as offices and phones.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County commissioners back ethics reform; Measures become fodder in lead-up to assessor contest in November |date=2010-09-13 |first=Hal |last=Dardick |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-09-13/news/ct-met-cook-county-board-ethics-20100913_1_ethics-reform-county-ethics-ordinance-commissioners |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref> "The law stinks, bottom line," Berrios said.<ref name=friendly/> Berrios was investigated by the Cook County Board of Ethics for allegedly receiving excessive campaign contributions from property-tax attorneys arguing cases in his office and before the Board of Review.<ref>{{cite news |date=2011-03-01 |title=Cook ethics board probes Berrios |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110301/news/703019772 |work=[http://www.dailyherald.com/ Daily Herald] |first=Ted |last=Cox}}</ref><ref name=bend>{{cite news |title=County assessor attempts to bend campaign cash rule; Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios accepting contributions over county's legal limit |publisher=[http://www.wgntv.com/news/ WGN-TV News] |url=http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-berrios-fundraising-law-march1,0,5777899.story |first1=Marsha |last1=Bartel |first2=Mark |last2=Suppelsa |date=2011-03-01}}</ref> The Board of Ethics sent letters to 15 tax attorneys, warning their donations to Berrios exceeded county campaign contribution limits in the run-up to the November, 2010 election. Berrios' attorney Burt Odelson issued a “cease and desist” letter to MaryNic Foster, executive director of the Board of Ethics. “Why would we follow an illegal law?” Odelson said.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lawyers warned their Berrios contributions could be illegal |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |date=2011-03-01 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/4083905-418/lawyers-warned-their-berrios-contributions-could-be-illegal.html}}</ref> Berrios sought an advisory opinion from the Cook County State's Attorney.<ref name=bend/> In a February 8, 2011 advisory opinion, Cook County Deputy [[State’s attorney|State’s Attorney]] Patrick Driscoll wrote that the County Board lacked the home rule authority to limit campaign contributions to the Assessor and that state campaign finance law prevails. “They don’t have the right to tell an elected official what they should or shouldn’t do with [regard to] campaign finance laws,” Berrios said.<ref>{{cite news |title=County legal opinion: Campaign finance law aimed at Berrios likely unconstitutional |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |date=2011-02-28 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/4062819-418/county-legal-opinion-campaign-finance-law-aimed-at-berrios-likely-unconstitutional.html}}</ref> An opinion from the County Board's legal counsel said the new limits were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County campaign finance law too strict, attorney says |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |date=2011-06-01 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/5723192-418/cook-county-campaign-finance-law-too-strict-attorney-says.html}}</ref> Cook County commissioners scaled back the campaign finance reform law.<ref>{{cite news |title=County rolls back campaign contribution limits aimed at Assessor Joe Berrios |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |date=2011-06-14 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/5964276-418/county-rolls-back-campaign-contribution-limits-aimed-at-assessor-joe-berrios.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}}</ref> The Board of Ethics dropped its investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=County drops probe of donations to Assessor Berrios from tax attorneys |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |date=2011-12-15 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/9468507-418/county-drops-probe-of-donations-to-assessor-berrios-from-tax-attorneys.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Shameless Joe |first=Kate |last=Schmidt |date=2011-12-16 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2011/12/16/shameless-joe |newspaper=[[Chicago Reader]] |accessdate=2012-01-30}}</ref>

==== Hiring and promoting relatives and friends ====

Days after taking office, Berrios hired his son, sister and Jaconetty to work for him, bringing them over from the property tax appeals board.<ref name=payroll>{{cite news |first=Hal |last=Dardick |title=Berrios puts son, sister on assessor payroll |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/12/berrios-puts-son-sister-on-assessor-payroll.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2010-12-08}}</ref><ref name=defends>{{cite news |title=County assessor defends hiring of family members |date=2001-12-09 |first=Charles |last=Thomas |publisher=[http://abclocal.go.com/wls/ ABC7 News] |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=7833443 |accessdate=2012-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Hinz |title=Joe Berrios sins, but the voters who elected him bear the blame |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101209/BLOGS02/312099994/joe-berrios-sins-but-the-voters-who-elected-him-bear-the-blame |work=[http://www.chicagobusiness.com/ Crain's Chicago Business] |date=2011-12-09}}</ref> Asked whether the hirings confirmed past criticisms, Berrios said: "I still won the election."<ref name=despite1>{{cite news |title=Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/2744731-417/berrios-county-assessor-office-cook.html |date=2001-12-08}}</ref><ref name=despite2>{{cite news |title=Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister |publisher=[http://wlsam.com/ WLS 890AM] |url=http://wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2050315 |accessdate=2012-01-30}}</ref> A ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' editorial called Berrios' hiring of his relatives "a flagrant violation of the county's ethics rules".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethics? Moi? Berrios says nepotism rules don't apply to him |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-05/news/ct-edit-assessor-20120705_1_son-and-sister-ethics-board-ethics-rules |date=2012-07-05 |accessdate=2012-09-10}}</ref>

Cook County’s two top government watchdogs, Patrick Blanchard, the county’s [[Inspector General]], and MaryNic Foster, Executive Director of the Cook County Board of Ethics, issued a joint advisory memo to County Board President [[Toni Preckwinkle]] and all 17 Cook County commissioners, warning them that hiring relatives who will work under their direct supervision violates the county’s ethics code.<ref>{{cite news |date=2010-12-22 |title=County watchdogs issue nepotism letter after Berrios hires son, sister |first=Hal |last=Dardick |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/12/county-watchdogs-issue-nepotism-letter-after-berrios-hires-son-sister.html}}</ref> The Cook County Board of Ethics launched an investigation of Berrios.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County ethics board investigating Berrios |date=2011-01-04 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=7879356 |publisher=[http://abclocal.go.com/wls ABC7 News] |accessdate=2012-01-30}}</ref> The federal-court appointed attorneys monitoring City of Chicago and Cook County compliance with the Shakman decrees, designed to prevent politics from playing a role in most personnel decisions, raised objections to as many as 27 hirings and firings in the early weeks of the Berrios administration of the Assessor's office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County Assessor Berrios denies wrongdoing |first=Ted |last=Cox |date=2011-01-08 |work=[http://www.dailyherald.com Daily Herald] |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110108/news/701099898/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Berrios accused of violating patronage curbs |date=2011-01-06 |first=Hal |last=Dardick |url=http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2011/01/berrios-accused-of-violating-patronage-curbs.html |publisher=[http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com Chicago Breaking News Center]}}</ref>

John J. Pikarski, Jr. was chairman of the Cook County Board of Ethics. Pikarski is also a prominent, long-time real estate zoning attorney whose firm represents clients before the County Board of Review on which Berrios served. Pikarski's law firm had donated thousands of dollars to Berrios' political campaigns over the years. With the Board's consideration of Berrios' possible violations of County [[nepotism]] ordinances pending, reports by [http://www.wgntv.com/ WGN-TV], the [http://www.bettergov.org Better Government Association], and ''[[Chicago Magazine]]'' raised renewed questions regarding Berrios' relationship to Pikarski.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago magazine, WGN-TV and BGA investigate potential conflicts of interest at Cook County Board of Ethics |date=2011-01-17 |first=David |last=Bernstein |work=[[Chicago Magazine]] |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/January-2011/Chicago-magazine-WGN-TV-and-BGA-investigate-potential-conflicts-of-interest-at-Cook-County-Board-of-Ethics/}}</ref><ref name=questions>{{cite web |title=Ethical Questions Arise About Cook County Ethics Board; A joint investigation by WGN-TV, Chicago magazine and the Better Government Association raises ethical questions about the head of the Cook County Ethics Board |last1=[http://www.bettergov.org Better Government Association] |last2=[[Chicago Magazine]] |last3=[http://www.wgntv.com/ WGN-TV] |date=2011-01-18 |url=http://www.bettergov.org/ethical_questions_arise_about_cook_county_ethics_board/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ethical conduct of head of the Cook County Ethics Board questioned |publisher=[http://www.wgntv.com/ WGN-TV] |first1=Mark |last1=Suppelsa |first2=Marsha |last2=Bartel |date=2011-01-17 |url=http://www.wgntv.com/news/eveningnews/wgntv-ethical-conduct-of-head-of-the-cook-county-ethics-board-questioned-20110720,0,3608573.story}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Bernstein |publisher=[[Chicago Magazine]] |title=Board of Review Probe Centers on Joe Berrios's Office |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Board-of-Review-Probe-on-Tax-Appeals-Centers-on-Joe-Berrios-Office/ |date=2010-10 |accessdate=2012-09-10}}</ref> One day later, Pikarski resigned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County ethics official quits; News report revealed political ties to beleaguered assessor |date=2011-01-19 |first=Hal |last=Dardick |work=[http://www.chicagotribune.com Chicago Tribune] |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-19/news/ct-met-county-board-meeting-20110119_1_ethics-board-preckwinkle-tax-appeals-board}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2011-01-20 |title=Cook County ethics chairman resigns; BGA, WGN-TV and Chicago magazine investigation raised questions about John Pikarski's own ethics on Cook County Board of Ethics |last1=[http://www.bettergov.org Better Government Association] |last2=[[Chicago Magazine]] |last3=[http://www.wgntv.com/ WGN-TV] |url=http://www.bettergov.org/cook_county_ethics_chairman_resigns/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County ethics chairman resigns |publisher=[http://www.wgntv.com/ WGN-TV] |first=Mark |last=Suppelsa |date=2011-01-20 |url=http://www.wgntv.com/news/eveningnews/wgntv-cook-county-ethics-chairman-resigns,0,4388059.story |accessdate=2012-01-30}}</ref>

On January 28, 2011, Berrios laid off 53 employees, of which 48 were members of unions, to comply with County Board President [[Toni Preckwinkle]]’s request to slash the Assessor's office's annual operating costs by 16 percent to help close a budget shortfall that her new administration pegged at $487 million, but Berrios' relatives remained on the payroll.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hal |last=Dardick |title=Assessor Berrios lays off 53 part of county budget cuts |url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/01/assessor-berrios-lays-off-53-as-part-of-county-budget-cuts.html |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2011-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Marsha |last1=Bartel |first2=Mark |last2=Suppelsa |title=Layoffs don't apply to Berrios's clan; 53 firings don't include Cook County Assessor's sister, children or mystery woman |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/wgntv-berrios-hiring-feb16,0,6779127.story |work=[http://www.wgntv.com/news/ WGN News]|date=2011-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Berrios, Cook County Assessor, Continues Hiring Family At New Post |work=[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ Huffington Post] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/joe-berrios-cook-county-a_n_794025.html |date=2010-12-08 |accessdate=2012-01-30 |first=Will |last=Guzzardi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Berrios Nepotism Continues: Lays Off 53 Workers, Keeps Family And Friends On Staff (VIDEO) |work=[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ Huffington Post] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/joe-berrios-nepotism-con_n_825278.html |date=2011-02-18 |accessdate=2012-01-30 |first=Jen |last=Sabella}}</ref>

In May, 2011 Berrios gave his daughter a 20%, $10,000 raise and a promotion from a job as an analyst examining valuation appeals of industrial and commercial properties to the post of chief industrial appraiser which earns an annual salary of $68,288.48, while most workers in the Assessor's office had to take 10 unpaid furlough days in 2011 because of budget cuts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook County assessor gave daughter a $10,000 pay raise |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/5495162-417/cook-county-assessor-gave-daughter-a-10000-pay-raise.html |date=2011-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: Berrios a family guy - too bad for you |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/5543093-474/editorial-berrios-a-family-guy--too-bad-for-you.html |date=2011-05-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Berrios daughter gets $10K raise |date=2011-05-23 |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8147462 |publisher=[http://abclocal.go.com/wls ABC7 News]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Hinz |title=Another Berrios moves up at Cook County assessor's office |date=2011-05-12 |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110512/BLOGS02/305129994/another-berrios-moves-up-at-cook-county-assessors-office |work=[http://www.chicagobusiness.com/ Crain's Chicago Business]}}</ref>

In its final determination he Cook County Board of Ethics recommended that Berrios remove his sister Carmen Berrios and his son Joseph “Joey" Berrios from the County payroll in a report date June 20, 2012. The Board fined Berrios $10,000 — $5,000 for each of the relatives he hired. At the time the younger Joe Berrios was chief of the land division, earning $69,285 annually, while the assessor’s sister was a deputy assessor of taxpayer services, making $107,841. "To me it’s not big deal, because I’ve been told by the state’s attorney they have no power over us," Berrios said.<ref>{{cite news |title=County ethics board to Assessor Berrios: Fire your son and sister |first=Lisa |last=Donovan |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/13409297-418/county-ethics-board-to-assessor-berrios-fire-your-son-and-sister.html |date=2012-06-26 |accessdate=2012-06-27}}</ref> Cook County Circuit Judge Richard J. Billik Jr. appointed an outside lawyer, Steven Puiszis, from the firm Hinshaw and Culbertson, to represent Berrios before the Board of Ethics beginning in April 2011. The firm billed the county $4,773 for its work on the case as of September, 2012. The Board of Ethics rejected Berrios' appeal of the final determination.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taxpayers get legal tab for Assessor Joe Berrios’ ethics fight over nepotism |first1=Dan |last1=Mihalopoulos |first2=Lisa |last2=Donovan |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/15000094-452/cook-county-taxpayers-get-the-legal-tab-for-assessor-joe-berrios-ethics-fight-over-nepotism.html |date=2012-09-10 |accessdate=2012-09-10}}</ref>


==Business interests==
==Business interests==
Line 51: Line 96:
==Personal life==
==Personal life==


Berrios lives in the [[Belmont Cragin]] neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. Berrios is the father of three children: State Representative [[Maria Antonia Berrios|Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios]], Vanessa, and Joseph.<ref name=questionaire/> Berrios' daughter, Vanessa, has worked in the Cook County Assessor's office since 1998. Berrios' son Joseph works for the Assessor's office as a residential analyst. Berrios' sister Carmen Cruz works for the Assessor's office as the director of taxpayer services.<ref name=payroll/><ref name=defends/><ref name=despite1/><ref name=despite2/> Two of Berrios' sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law work at the Board of Review.<ref name=microscope/>
Berrios lives in the [[Belmont Cragin]] neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. Berrios is the father of three children.

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.electjoeberrios.com/ Elect Joe Berrios], website of Friends of Joe Berrios for Assessor, an Illinois political action committee
* [http://www.electjoeberrios.com/ Elect Joe Berrios], website of Friends of Joe Berrios for Assessor, an Illinois political action committee

Revision as of 17:13, 10 September 2012

Joseph Berrios
Cook County Assessor
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 6, 2010
Preceded byJames Houlihan
Commissioner, Cook County Board of Review
In office
1988–2010
State Representative, Illinois General Assembly
In office
1982–1988
Personal details
Born (1952-02-14) February 14, 1952 (age 72)
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Chicago, Illinois
 United States

Joseph "Joe" Berrios (born February 14, 1952) is the Assessor of Cook County, Illinois. Berrios is a lobbyist to Illinois state government who became the first Hispanic American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly, and the first and only Hispanic American to lead the Democratic Party of Cook County. Berrios "shines as a vivid example of the clout-infested politics for which Illinois is famous" according to a 2010 Chicago Magazine profile. Crain's Chicago Business called Berrios "a walking conflict of interest." Berrios shamelessly hired relatives and friends to government jobs under his control, complemented elected office with a private lobbying practice, used ballot access law to political advantage, and vigorously defended accepting campaign contributions from those doing business with his elected office.

Early life and education

Berrios was born on February 14, 1952, oldest of seven children. When he was six, his family moved into one of the Cabrini-Green public housing high-rises. At 13 Berrios got a job as a dishwasher in a restaurant, worked there for seven years, and eventually become a waiter. Berrios graduated from Lane Technical College Prep High School in Chicago, and received a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago.[1][2]

Early political career

Berrios started off as a precinct captain in the 31st Ward organization of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's chief City Council ally, Alderman Thomas Keane, which commanded a formidable patronage army of city, county, and state workers.[3] Keane`s reign as the Council's most powerful alderman ended in October, 1974, when he was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy for using his public position to profit from illegal real estate deals. He handed his Council seat to his wife, Adeline, and his committeeman's post, a Democratic Party position, to Edward Nedza, who had held various city jobs since 1960.[4] Berrios was a political protege of Nedza. In 1978 Nedza won the Illinois state Senate seat from the 5th Senate district, which encompasses the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, and much of the 31st ward. Nedza, a Polish-American, recognized the growing Puerto Rican population in his district, and groomed Hispanics within the Democratic Party.[5]

Illinois State Representative, 1982–1988

Campaign

In the resolution of a federal suit brought by Chicago area Latino groups citing the 1980 United States census, a United States federal court panel ordered a new legislative district map for the Illinois General Assembly that gave Hispanics a majority in two Illinois House of Representatives districts in Chicago: the 9th, which is predominantly Puerto Rican, and the 20th, which is predominantly Mexican. Berrios, then chief clerk of the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, was one of three candidates who filed to run in the Democratic primary in the 9th district, but the other two were removed from the ballot after challenges to their nominating petitions. No candidate ran in the Republican primary. Berrios ran unopposed in the general election, and at the age of 30 became the first Hispanic American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly.[2][6][7]

Report from the Coalition for Political Honesty

Berrios and Nedza were among 21 Illinois state legislators criticised in a report for holding a second, taxpayer-salaried government job in addition to their salary as a state legislator. Berrios drew salaries as both a state legislator and a deputy to a Commissioner on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals. The report was issued in December, 1985 by the Coalition for Political Honesty, founded by then Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals Commissioner Pat Quinn (later governor of Illinois).[8]

31st ward Democratic committeeman, 1987–1988, 1992–

In March, 1987 then former State Sen. Edward Nedza, Berrios' mentor was indicted in a federal investigation of bribes allegedly paid to city licensing officials.[4] In April, 1987 Nedza resigned his position as committeeman of the 31st ward in Chicago and named Berrios as his replacement. In August, 1987, Nedza was convicted on federal charges of using his political office for illegal financial gain.[9]

Berrios allied with Alderman Edward Vrdolyak, Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's nemesis, during the Council Wars era. In 1987 Raymond Figueroa, with Washington's backing, beat Berrios's candidate for alderman, Miguel Santiago. A year later Figueroa beat Berrios for committeeman. In 1991 Figueroa decided not to run for reelection as alderman, and he left the committeeman's job the following year and Berrios regained the committeeman's role.[3]

Chairman, Democratic Party of Cook County, 2007–

Thomas G. Lyons was a veteran 45th Ward committeeman who served as a lawmaker, lawyer and lobbyist and headed the Democratic Party of Cook County for nearly 17 years.[10] Lyons announced his retirement on January 9, 2007. Democrats scheduled a February 1 meeting in Chicago to fill the vacancy.[11] Lyons died Friday, January 12, 2007, at age 75 in an Evanston nursing home.[10] The Democratic committeemen of Cook County, in the February 1 meeting, overseen by Illinois House Speaker and Illinois Democratic Party chairman Michael J. Madigan,[11] elected Berrios, a close Madigan ally, as their chairman. Berrios was the first Hispanic to hold the unpaid party position.[12]

Commissioner on Cook County Board of Review, 1988–2010

First elected in 1988, Berrios was paid $56,000 a year for his work on the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, later renamed the Cook County Board of Review. In October 1990, Berrios added a part-time job as a legislative aide to his political ally, Democratic State Rep. Miguel Santiago. The job paid him nearly $10,000 over the next two years. Berrios held the position while serving as a member of the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals. Also while working at the tax appeals board, Berrios worked as a Springfield lobbyist and a consultant, sometimes teaming up with his longtime business partner, Sam Panayotovich.[13]

Berrios took dozens of meetings in 2009 in the Commissioner's 6th floor office in the County Building in downtown Chicago with his business partners, campaign fund-raisers, Democratic ward committeemen and other political operatives. Illinois law prohibits conducting political and personal business on government time or using government facilities.[2][14]

Hiring relatives and friends

While Commissioner, Berrios' sister, sister-in-law, son and daughter worked for the county at annual salaries ranging from $48,000 to $86,000.[15] "Let me see, one, two, three … yeah, four,” Berrios told the Associated Press.[16][17] Berrios also hired, as a deputy chief commissioner, election law attorney Thomas Jaconetty, who with Berrios had been a precinct captain in the 31st Ward under Alderman Keane.[18] Jaconetty wrote the chapter on ballot access in the courseware of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.[19] Berrios responded to criticisms of his hiring of relatives and friends, saying "What you're basically saying is that Joe Berrios should get out of politics. If my brothers or whoever wants to come and work in government, they shouldn't be allowed to work in government. If you want to pass a law that says one individual is in government, then none of their friends or relatives can work in government, then you should pass that law."[20]

Campaign contributions from property tax appeal lawyers

Commissioner Berrios regularly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in campaign cash from lawyers who specialize in property tax appeals.[21] Berrios has five personal political funds, not including the one for the Democratic Party of Cook County, which he also controls. Berrios collected more than $3 million in political contributions between 2000 and 2010.[22] Donations from property tax appeal lawyers accounted for 64 percent of the campaign contributions raised by Berrios between 2000 and 2010. Roughly one-third of Mr. Berrios’s campaign money between 2000 and 2010 came from the 15 law firms that gained the most for their clients from the property tax appeal panel between 2006 and 2008. Together, those top firms contributed almost $1 million to six political committees controlled by Mr. Berrios and to his daughter, Illinois State Representative Maria Antonia Berrios, Democrat of Chicago. Several of the firms that saved their clients the most money through appeals to the board have strong political connections. From 2006 to 2008, the tax appeal law firm that received the biggest breaks for their clients was that of Michael J. Madigan, the Illinois House speaker, a Chicago Democrat and a close ally of Berrios. Other firms among those winning the biggest breaks for their clients included the firm of Patrick J. Cullerton, brother of John Cullerton, the president of the Illinois Senate, and the firm of Alderman Edward Burke of the 14th Ward in Chicago. At the same time, Berrios moonlighted as a lobbyist in Illinois state government for such causes as legalizing video poker.[23]

Cook County Assessor, 2010–

Campaign

Cook County Assessor James Houlihan announced that he would not seek re-election in 2010.[24] Within hours, Berrios said he planned to announce his candidacy for assessor.[25] On February 2, 2010 Berrios won the three-way Democratic primary[3] with 39% of the vote, in a primary with the lowest turn-out since 1958.[26][27]

Chicago Magazine described Berrios in a 2010 profile as "a consummate insider in Illinois politics, a member of the fraternity of the well connected who are in positions to manage the system to their advantage" and wrote that Berrios "shines as a vivid example of the clout-infested politics for which Illinois is famous."[2] The Chicago Tribune editorial board described Berrios as "a terrible candidate for the powerful office of assessor"[28] and called the Democratic Party of Cook County's slating of Berrios for Assessor a "miserable mistake," citing "his disregard for basic ethical principles" and "patent conflicts of interest."[29] The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board called the slating a "tragedy," describing Berrios as "a fine example, in fact, of why Illinois needs serious campaign finance reform with teeth in it," and citing Berrios' lack of transparency on the Board of Review, his record of hiring family and friends, and his "cozy" relationship with Madigan.[30] The Daily Herald editorial board called Berrios "the very antithesis of what the office needs."[31]

Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool filed nominating petitions to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for assessor. Claypool filed petitions with more than 90,000 signatures, even though only 25,000 were needed, in keeping with advice from experts who recommend getting three times as many signatures as needed to withstand any petition challenge.[32] To examine Claypool's nominating petitions, Berrios retained a team of Illinois' most experienced election law attorneys, including his long-time aide and assistant commissioner Jaconetty, Michael Kasper, Burt Odelson, Richard Means, and Jim Nally.[33][34][35] Even after Berrios claimed 53,000 signatures were "suspect" and 6,000 more were ineligible because of questions about the person circulating the petition, that left plenty for Claypool, and Berrios declined to formally challenge the petitions.[36] Claypool fell far behind Berrios in the November, 2010 general election, explaining that he just didn’t get enough suburban support to top Berrios's Democratic organization in Chicago.[37][38]

County Board of Ethics investigations

Campaign fundraising in excess of County limits

On Monday morning, September 13, 2010, while Berrios was at a campaign fundraising breakfast,[39] the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board met and Commissioners approved a host of reform and ethics regulations, including a measure that required candidates for assessor or the Board of Review to return contributions of more than $1,500 in an election cycle from lawyers who appeal tax assessments, and another measure that barred public officials from conducting any type of political activity while on the county clock or using county resources, such as offices and phones.[40] "The law stinks, bottom line," Berrios said.[22] Berrios was investigated by the Cook County Board of Ethics for allegedly receiving excessive campaign contributions from property-tax attorneys arguing cases in his office and before the Board of Review.[41][42] The Board of Ethics sent letters to 15 tax attorneys, warning their donations to Berrios exceeded county campaign contribution limits in the run-up to the November, 2010 election. Berrios' attorney Burt Odelson issued a “cease and desist” letter to MaryNic Foster, executive director of the Board of Ethics. “Why would we follow an illegal law?” Odelson said.[43] Berrios sought an advisory opinion from the Cook County State's Attorney.[42] In a February 8, 2011 advisory opinion, Cook County Deputy State’s Attorney Patrick Driscoll wrote that the County Board lacked the home rule authority to limit campaign contributions to the Assessor and that state campaign finance law prevails. “They don’t have the right to tell an elected official what they should or shouldn’t do with [regard to] campaign finance laws,” Berrios said.[44] An opinion from the County Board's legal counsel said the new limits were unconstitutional.[45] Cook County commissioners scaled back the campaign finance reform law.[46] The Board of Ethics dropped its investigation.[47][48]

Hiring and promoting relatives and friends

Days after taking office, Berrios hired his son, sister and Jaconetty to work for him, bringing them over from the property tax appeals board.[49][50][51] Asked whether the hirings confirmed past criticisms, Berrios said: "I still won the election."[52][53] A Chicago Tribune editorial called Berrios' hiring of his relatives "a flagrant violation of the county's ethics rules".[54]

Cook County’s two top government watchdogs, Patrick Blanchard, the county’s Inspector General, and MaryNic Foster, Executive Director of the Cook County Board of Ethics, issued a joint advisory memo to County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and all 17 Cook County commissioners, warning them that hiring relatives who will work under their direct supervision violates the county’s ethics code.[55] The Cook County Board of Ethics launched an investigation of Berrios.[56] The federal-court appointed attorneys monitoring City of Chicago and Cook County compliance with the Shakman decrees, designed to prevent politics from playing a role in most personnel decisions, raised objections to as many as 27 hirings and firings in the early weeks of the Berrios administration of the Assessor's office.[57][58]

John J. Pikarski, Jr. was chairman of the Cook County Board of Ethics. Pikarski is also a prominent, long-time real estate zoning attorney whose firm represents clients before the County Board of Review on which Berrios served. Pikarski's law firm had donated thousands of dollars to Berrios' political campaigns over the years. With the Board's consideration of Berrios' possible violations of County nepotism ordinances pending, reports by WGN-TV, the Better Government Association, and Chicago Magazine raised renewed questions regarding Berrios' relationship to Pikarski.[59][39][60][61] One day later, Pikarski resigned.[62][63][64]

On January 28, 2011, Berrios laid off 53 employees, of which 48 were members of unions, to comply with County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s request to slash the Assessor's office's annual operating costs by 16 percent to help close a budget shortfall that her new administration pegged at $487 million, but Berrios' relatives remained on the payroll.[65][66][67][68]

In May, 2011 Berrios gave his daughter a 20%, $10,000 raise and a promotion from a job as an analyst examining valuation appeals of industrial and commercial properties to the post of chief industrial appraiser which earns an annual salary of $68,288.48, while most workers in the Assessor's office had to take 10 unpaid furlough days in 2011 because of budget cuts.[69][70][71][72]

In its final determination he Cook County Board of Ethics recommended that Berrios remove his sister Carmen Berrios and his son Joseph “Joey" Berrios from the County payroll in a report date June 20, 2012. The Board fined Berrios $10,000 — $5,000 for each of the relatives he hired. At the time the younger Joe Berrios was chief of the land division, earning $69,285 annually, while the assessor’s sister was a deputy assessor of taxpayer services, making $107,841. "To me it’s not big deal, because I’ve been told by the state’s attorney they have no power over us," Berrios said.[73] Cook County Circuit Judge Richard J. Billik Jr. appointed an outside lawyer, Steven Puiszis, from the firm Hinshaw and Culbertson, to represent Berrios before the Board of Ethics beginning in April 2011. The firm billed the county $4,773 for its work on the case as of September, 2012. The Board of Ethics rejected Berrios' appeal of the final determination.[74]

Business interests

Berrios is President of an insurance agency, J B Insurance - Consulting Inc. with an office in downtown Chicago.[75][76][77] Berrios is a partner with Sam Panayotovich in, and secretary of, a lobbying firm, B-P Consulting, Inc. with an office in downtown Chicago. Clients include the Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association and Illinois Licensed Beverage Association.[77][78]

Personal life

Berrios lives in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. Berrios is the father of three children: State Representative Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios, Vanessa, and Joseph.[1] Berrios' daughter, Vanessa, has worked in the Cook County Assessor's office since 1998. Berrios' son Joseph works for the Assessor's office as a residential analyst. Berrios' sister Carmen Cruz works for the Assessor's office as the director of taxpayer services.[49][50][52][53] Two of Berrios' sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law work at the Board of Review.[2]

References

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  2. ^ a b c d e Bernstein, David (2010-10). "Joseph Berrios, Candidate for Cook County Assessor: Under the Microscope". Chicago Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Joravsky, Ben (2010-01-14). "Who'll Keep Your Rent Down Now? In the Cook County assessor's race: the insider, the outsider, or the guy with no phone?". Chicago Reader.
  4. ^ a b Camper, John (1987-03-17). "Nedza, Kuta Learned Politics From Master". Chicago Tribune.
  5. ^ Galvan, Manuel; Smith, Wes (1986-03-09). "Hispanic movement takes cue from past". Chicago Tribune.
  6. ^ Galvan, Manuel (1982-05-10). "No opponent for Hispanic candidate: CAMPAIGN '82". Chicago Tribune.
  7. ^ "A Troubling Assessment of Insider Joseph Berrios". Better Government Association. 2010-08-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Kass, John (1985-12-16). "State 'double dippers' blasted". Chicago Tribune.
  9. ^ "Nedza's fate mirrors his mentor's". Chicago Tribune. 1987-08-14.
  10. ^ a b Pearson, Rick; Sheehan, Charles (2007-01-14). "Thomas G. Lyons: 1931 - 2007; Leader of Cook County Democrats; Long political career included work as 45th Ward committeeman, lawmaker, lawyer and lobbyist". Chicago Tribune.
  11. ^ a b "Democrat leader Lyons to resign next month". Chicago Tribune. 2007-01-10.
  12. ^ Ciokajlo, Mickey (2007-02-02). "Democrats elect a new chief; County party names 1st Hispanic leader". Chicago Tribune.
  13. ^ Gibson, Ray (1995-02-24). "Hunt For 'Ghosts' Goes Beyond City". Chicago Tribune.
  14. ^ Better Government Association; Chicago Magazine (2010-10). "Joe's Time, Our Dime? Is Berrios conducting political and personal business on government time?". Chicago Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |last1= (help)
  15. ^ Dardick, Hal (2010-10-18). "Assessor candidates on the defensive; In debate, Berrios challenged about relatives on government payroll". Chicago Tribune.
  16. ^ Babwin, Don (2010-10-30). "Race For Obscure Post Tests Chicago-Style Politics". CBS 2 Chicago. Associated Press. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= and |work= (help)
  17. ^ "Race For Obscure Post Tests Chicago-Style Politics". WLS 890 AM. Associated Press. 2010-10-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= and |work= (help)
  18. ^ Joravsky, Ben (2006-12-18). "The Demotion That Makes No Difference". Chicago Reader.
  19. ^ Zorn, Eric (2009-11-17). "Petition challenge hearings begin: The 'gotcha' game is afoot". Chicago Tribune.
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  22. ^ a b Bernstein, David (2010-10). "Cook County Campaign Contribution Limits to Board of Review Not Being Enforced; THE FRIENDLY BAR: A county effort to cap campaign donations by property tax attorneys turns out to be toothless". Chicago Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Little, Darnell (2010-01-29). "Assessor Candidate Benefits From Property Tax Lawyers". New York Times. {{cite news}}: |first1= missing |last1= (help); External link in |work= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Dardick, Hal (2009-08-06). "Cook County Assessor James Houlihan won't seek re-election". Chicago Tribune.
  25. ^ "Cook County Assessor James Houlihan Announces He Won't Run Again". Chicago Tribune. WGN-AM. 2009-08-06.
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  27. ^ Warren, James (2010-02-11). "An Election Sets a Record, and Not a Good One". New York Times. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  28. ^ "Stroger and Berrios". Chicago Tribune. 2010-05-12.
  29. ^ "Assessor Insider". Chicago Tribune. 2009-09-10.
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  31. ^ "For Cook County assessor, Democratic: Figueroa". Daily Herald. 2010-01-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  32. ^ Dardick, Hal (2010-06-21). "Claypool files paperwork to get in Cook County assessor race". Chicago Tribune.
  33. ^ Joravsky, Ben (2010-04-29). "He Doesn't Have to Outrun the Bear; Would-be assessor Joe Berrios doesn't have to win over taxpayers. He just has to keep Forrest Claypool off the ballot". Chicago Reader.
  34. ^ Mihalopoulus, Dan (2010-06-21). "Challenges Loom for Claypool Signatures". Chicago News Cooperative. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Warren, James (2010-05-28). "Preparing for a Challenge in the Race for Assessor". New York Times. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  36. ^ Cox, Ted (2010-06-29). "Berrios drops challenge to Claypool's independent run". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  37. ^ Kirk, Jim (2010-10-02). "Preckwinkle, Berrios Cruise To Victories in Cook County". Chicago News Cooperative. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ "Claypool concedes, Berrios winner in Cook County assessor race". Chicago Tribune. 2010-11-02.
  39. ^ a b Better Government Association; Chicago Magazine; WGN-TV (2011-01-18). "Ethical Questions Arise About Cook County Ethics Board; A joint investigation by WGN-TV, Chicago magazine and the Better Government Association raises ethical questions about the head of the Cook County Ethics Board". {{cite web}}: External link in |last1= and |last3= (help)
  40. ^ Dardick, Hal (2010-09-13). "Cook County commissioners back ethics reform; Measures become fodder in lead-up to assessor contest in November". Chicago Tribune.
  41. ^ Cox, Ted (2011-03-01). "Cook ethics board probes Berrios". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  42. ^ a b Bartel, Marsha; Suppelsa, Mark (2011-03-01). "County assessor attempts to bend campaign cash rule; Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios accepting contributions over county's legal limit". WGN-TV News. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  43. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-03-01). "Lawyers warned their Berrios contributions could be illegal". Chicago Sun-Times.
  44. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-02-28). "County legal opinion: Campaign finance law aimed at Berrios likely unconstitutional". Chicago Sun-Times.
  45. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-06-01). "Cook County campaign finance law too strict, attorney says". Chicago Sun-Times.
  46. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-06-14). "County rolls back campaign contribution limits aimed at Assessor Joe Berrios". Chicago Sun-Times.
  47. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-12-15). "County drops probe of donations to Assessor Berrios from tax attorneys". Chicago Sun-Times.
  48. ^ Schmidt, Kate (2011-12-16). "Shameless Joe". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  49. ^ a b Dardick, Hal (2010-12-08). "Berrios puts son, sister on assessor payroll". Chicago Tribune.
  50. ^ a b Thomas, Charles (2001-12-09). "County assessor defends hiring of family members". ABC7 News. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  51. ^ Hinz, Greg (2011-12-09). "Joe Berrios sins, but the voters who elected him bear the blame". Crain's Chicago Business. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  52. ^ a b Donovan, Lisa (2001-12-08). "Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister". Chicago Sun-Times.
  53. ^ a b "Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister". WLS 890AM. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  54. ^ "Ethics? Moi? Berrios says nepotism rules don't apply to him". Chicago Tribune. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  55. ^ Dardick, Hal (2010-12-22). "County watchdogs issue nepotism letter after Berrios hires son, sister". Chicago Tribune.
  56. ^ "Cook County ethics board investigating Berrios". ABC7 News. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  57. ^ Cox, Ted (2011-01-08). "Cook County Assessor Berrios denies wrongdoing". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  58. ^ Dardick, Hal (2011-01-06). "Berrios accused of violating patronage curbs". Chicago Breaking News Center. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  59. ^ Bernstein, David (2011-01-17). "Chicago magazine, WGN-TV and BGA investigate potential conflicts of interest at Cook County Board of Ethics". Chicago Magazine.
  60. ^ Suppelsa, Mark; Bartel, Marsha (2011-01-17). "Ethical conduct of head of the Cook County Ethics Board questioned". WGN-TV. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  61. ^ Bernstein, David (2010-10). "Board of Review Probe Centers on Joe Berrios's Office". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ Dardick, Hal (2011-01-19). "Cook County ethics official quits; News report revealed political ties to beleaguered assessor". Chicago Tribune. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  63. ^ Better Government Association; Chicago Magazine; WGN-TV (2011-01-20). "Cook County ethics chairman resigns; BGA, WGN-TV and Chicago magazine investigation raised questions about John Pikarski's own ethics on Cook County Board of Ethics". {{cite web}}: External link in |last1= and |last3= (help)
  64. ^ Suppelsa, Mark (2011-01-20). "Cook County ethics chairman resigns". WGN-TV. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  65. ^ Dardick, Hal (2011-01-28). "Assessor Berrios lays off 53 part of county budget cuts". Chicago Tribune.
  66. ^ Bartel, Marsha; Suppelsa, Mark (2011-02-17). "Layoffs don't apply to Berrios's clan; 53 firings don't include Cook County Assessor's sister, children or mystery woman". WGN News. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  67. ^ Guzzardi, Will (2010-12-08). "Joe Berrios, Cook County Assessor, Continues Hiring Family At New Post". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  68. ^ Sabella, Jen (2011-02-18). "Joe Berrios Nepotism Continues: Lays Off 53 Workers, Keeps Family And Friends On Staff (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  69. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2011-05-23). "Cook County assessor gave daughter a $10,000 pay raise". Chicago Sun-Times.
  70. ^ "Editorial: Berrios a family guy - too bad for you". Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-05-23.
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  72. ^ Hinz, Greg (2011-05-12). "Another Berrios moves up at Cook County assessor's office". Crain's Chicago Business. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  73. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2012-06-26). "County ethics board to Assessor Berrios: Fire your son and sister". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
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  77. ^ a b "Illinois Secretary of State". Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  78. ^ "Claypool is best pick for Cook assessor". Daily Herald. 2010-05-29. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)


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