After teasing out his plans in the local media over the past week, outgoing Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool announced this morning that he is entering the general election for Cook County assessor as an independent.  In his comments to the press, Claypool said that he decided to jump into the race after Raymond Figueroa failed to defeat Joe Berrios in the Democratic primary in February.  He called Berrios "a clear threat to homeowners and senior citizens throughout the county," adding: "Those of who care about tax reform and fairness ... cannot sit by idly and allow him to take that office."

Watch some clips from the press conference, which also featured remarks by Congressmen Mike Quigley and Jesse Jackson Jr.:

The actual duties of the assessor are fairly straightforward.  As Claypool explained, "The assessor's job is to follow the law and the law is that the assessor objectively sets the value of properties."  So why is this race such a big deal?  Because whoever occupies it gets a prominent platform in the debate over property taxes in Illinois.  This is particularly important with regards to the homeowner exemption, which the state legislature controls.  In a January article, the Reader's Ben Joravsky explained how outgoing Assessor Jim Houlihan pushed for higher exemptions as a way to protect taxpayers:

Cook County assessor Jim Houlihan has consistently argued that homeowners need a break, and that without one many could be forced to sell their property. Soon after he was first elected in 1998 he began to champion an increase in the exemption, then $4,500, and eventually he managed to maneuver [Chicago Mayor Richard] Daley and [House Speaker Michael] Madigan into endorsing various versions of the idea—after all, they didn't want to look like the bad guys.

By law, though, the exemption is due to fall from $20,000 to $6,000 this year. Though other variables are changing that will ease the transition for some homeowners, for most this will still mean an increase in property taxes.

And Houlihan is retiring. That means there will be no powerful politician to force Madigan or Daley to support raising the exemption.

Berrios has said that, if elected to the post of assessor, he would continue Houlihan's fight for a higher exemption.  But as Joravsky reported, there are serious doubts about whether he would follow through, considering his cozy relationship with Madigan:

As assessor, Berrios says, he'll aggressively lobby his pals in the Democratic Party—meaning Madigan and Daley—to support a hike in the exemption before the big tax bills come out next fall. [...]

Figueroa sneers at the suggestion that Berrios has the will or the way to successfully get Madigan or Daley to sign on.

"Berrios does what they tell him—they don't do what he tells them," says Figueroa. "Berrios lobbies Madigan for video poker machines, but he doesn't lobby his friend the speaker for the taxpayers."

The Sun-Times' Carol Marin expressed similar skepticism in a January 6 column:

Berrios, who is Madigan's guy, says he has "talked to" Madigan about "doing something" to protect homeowners from the sticker shock of eye-popping new tax bills. Try taking that to the bank.

Marin had more to say about Berrios in her January 31 piece:

Joe Berrios is the Springfield lobbyist/Cook County Democratic Party chairman/Board of Review commissioner who has it all when it comes to conflicts of interest. He lobbies House Speaker Mike Madigan for legislation benefitting his clients. Madigan lobbies Berrios for reductions in the property tax assessments for his big corporate clients. It's a perfect system that makes suckers of ordinary homeowners who pick up the tab for billionaire corporate types who get the breaks.

Claypool contrasted himself with Berrios this morning by highlighting his previous support for the property tax relief championed by Houlihan.  He also argued that he would not be beholden to the tax lawyers who have filled Berrios' campaign coffers during his tenure at the Cook County Board of Appeals.  "I’ll start by declaring my independence from the tax appeal lawyers who fund Joe Berrios," he said. "I pledge to you today: I will not take their money."

A few more interesting tidbits regarding this race: 

Gov. Pat Quinn, a longtime friend of Claypool's, endorsed Berrios in the Democratic primary, to the chagrin of many progressives and independent reformers.  It will be interesting to see what the governor has to say about Claypool's entry into the race. 

Also, to get on the ballot, Claypool must submit 25,000 valid signatures to the county board of elections by June 21.  But as Capitol Fax noted this morning, "nobody who circulated a petition in the recent partisan primary cycle can circulate for him."  However, "those who took partisan primary ballots in February can sign Claypool’s petitions."  Regardless, he is going to have to hustle to get those signatures in order and you can be sure that the Berrios camp will be pouring over them once they're submitted.