Skip to content

Cook County Assessor Candidate Forum

SBAC Presents: Cook County Assessor Candidate Forum 2022 

The SBAC and a robust number of business organizations held a candidate forum for Cook County Assessor.  You can watch the forum and hear from Cook County Assessor Friz Kaegi, Commissioner Kari Steele and Mr. Tsatsoulis the individuals running for Cook County Assessor here!

We have marked specific Q&A for your convenience!

3:20 - Introductions

16:40 - How will you support small businesses in local communities, so they can foster economic development in local communities and create jobs?

23:49 - How would you make the process of assessing properties more transparent than it already is?

30:58 - How would you strike a balance between providing needed relief for property owners struggling because of vacancy, but not reward property owners than consistently take vacancy reductions and don't attempt to lease, sell or repair their property?

39:02 - What role do you believe the assessor's office has in incentivizing property owners to lease their spaces and to get small business owners into vacant properties?

44:00 - How the modernization of the Cook County Assessor's office has been going, and how can we move modernization efforts moving forward?

51:09 - How closely have you worked with state legislators and how is that important for the cook county assessor to be successful?

56:20 - What forms have been made in terms of ethics and what plans do you have in the future to address ethics in the office?

1:03:36 - If you were talking to a small business owner and they were concerned about property taxes, what would you tell them to expect if you were elected Cook County Assessor?

1:10:33 - Closing Statements

Insights Archive

Legalization of Sandwich Signs to Help Local Businesses

By growthzone | February 23, 2022

After persistent support from the SBAC to legalize sandwich signs, in June 2021, Chicago Alderman voted to adopt a new policy on sandwich signs, which will go into effect NEXT WEEK. On March 1, 2022, Chicago small businesses can officially use “A-frame” or sandwich signs on the sidewalk to drive foot traffic into their stores.…

REVITALIZATION IN THE NEWS: Two Locally Owned Grocery Stores Underway on West Side

By growthzone | February 23, 2022

This comes after decades of disinvestment. After decades of disinvestment, two new grocery stores are being built on Chicago’s West Side – something residents have long awaited as other grocery store chains close up shop.   The SBAC and our robust collation of partners are committed to revitalizing, empowering, and connecting local business districts across…

OpEd: Crains Chicago Business

By growthzone | February 9, 2022

February 08, 2022 11:34 AM A Labor Shortage Creates an Opportunity to Help the Homeless Illinois politicians should engage those leading the fight against homelessness and also engage small-business advocates to explore how to prepare homeless individuals for a return to the workforce. ​​​​​​​ NELI VAZQUEZ ROWLAND ELLIOT RICHARDSON Read the FULL OpEd HERE SPONSORS…

Scroll To Top