Misplaced Pages

Joseph Berrios: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 13:24, 11 September 2012 editOrlady (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Administrators94,578 edits →Hiring and promoting relatives and friends: remove quotation that does not add encyclopedic value; corrected another date← Previous edit Revision as of 14:43, 11 September 2012 edit undoHughD (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users19,133 edits WP:MOS notability in intro, summary of article contents in introNext edit →
Line 18: Line 18:
}} }}


'''Joseph "Joe" Berrios''' (born February 14, 1952) is a ] politician and ] ] who is currently the ] of ]. He was the first ] to serve in the ] and the first and only Hispanic American to lead the ]. He has been the focus of controversy over allegations of ethics violations and ]. '''Joseph "Joe" Berrios''' (born February 14, 1952) is a ] politician and ] ] who is currently the ] of ]. He was the first ] to serve in the ] and the first and only Hispanic American to lead the ]. He has been the focus of controversy over allegations of ethics violations and ]. Berrios 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 ==

Revision as of 14:43, 11 September 2012

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
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 a Democratic politician and Illinois state government lobbyist who is currently the Assessor of Cook County, Illinois. He was 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. He has been the focus of controversy over allegations of ethics violations and political corruption. Berrios 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.

Early political career

Berrios' first political position was as a precinct captain in the 31st Ward organization of Alderman Thomas Keane, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley's chief ally on the City Council. In October 1974, when Keane was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy for using his public position to profit from illegal real estate deals, his Council seat was filled by his wife, Adeline, and Edward Nedza assumed his post as Democratic Party committeeman. 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.

Illinois State Representative

In 1982, Berrios was one of three candidates who filed to run for the Illinois House of Representatives in the Democratic primary in the 9th district, a new predominantly Puerto Rican district that had been created as a result of a federal lawsuit brought by Chicago-area Latino groups. The United States federal court panel that decided the case had ordered a new legislative district map for the Illinois General Assembly that gave Hispanics a majority in two Illinois House districts in Chicago, including the 9th and the 20th, which is predominantly Mexican. Berrios ran unopposed in the primary after the other two candidates were removed from the ballot due to challenges to their nominating petitions. No candidate ran in the Republican primary, so 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. He went on to win re-election twice, serving three two-year terms.

31st ward Democratic committeeman, 1987–1988 and since 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. 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.

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.

Chairman, Democratic Party of Cook County, beginning 2007

After Thomas G. Lyons, a veteran 45th Ward committeeman who had headed the Democratic Party of Cook County for nearly 17 years announced his retirement in January 2007, Democrats met in Chicago on February 1 to fill the vacancy, electing Berrios as their new chairman. Berrios was the first Hispanic to hold the unpaid party position.

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.

Cook County Assessor, beginning 2010

Election

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

Berrios' candidacy was denounced in editorials in local newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times,, and the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.. Chicago Magazine described him as "a consummate insider in Illinois politics" and "a vivid example of the clout-infested politics for which Illinois is famous."

Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool filed nominating petitions that enabled him to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for assessor in spite of petition challenges by supporters of Berrios, but lost to Berrios in the November 2010 general election when Berrios received 46 percent of the vote in a field that also included Republican Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall. Claypool attributed his defeat to his failure to get enough suburban support to top Berrios' Democratic organization in Chicago.

County Board of Ethics investigations

Since taking office as Assessor, Berrios has been the subject of multiple investigations by the Cook County Board of Ethics.

Campaign fundraising in excess of County limits

In September 2010, during Berrios' campaign for Assessor, the Finance Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners adopted several reform and ethics regulations. One new regulation 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. Another prohibited paid public officials from conducting political activity during their working hours or using county resources, such as offices and phones, for political purposes.

Following his election, 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. The Board of Ethics sent letters to 15 tax attorneys, warning that their donations to Berrios during the 2010 election cycle had exceeded the county campaign contribution limits. Berrios' attorney objected that the regulation was "illegal", and Berrios sought an advisory opinion from the Cook County State's Attorney. In February 2011, Cook County Deputy State’s Attorney Patrick Driscoll wrote in advisory opinion that the County Board had lacked the home rule authority to limit campaign contributions to the Assessor and that state campaign finance law prevails. The County Board's legal counsel issued an opinion that the new contribution limits were unconstitutional. In response, Cook County commissioners scaled back the campaign finance reform law and the Cook County Board of Ethics dropped its investigation of Berrios.

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. A Chicago Tribune editorial called Berrios' hiring of his relatives "a flagrant violation of the county's ethics rules".

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. The Cook County Board of Ethics launched an investigation of Berrios. 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.

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. One day later, Pikarski resigned.

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.

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.

In its final determination dated June 20, 2012 the Cook County Board of Ethics recommended that Berrios remove his sister Carmen Berrios and his son Joseph “Joey" Berrios from the County payroll and 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. 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.

Business interests

Berrios is President of an insurance agency, J B Insurance - Consulting Inc. with an office in downtown Chicago. 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.

Personal life

Berrios lives in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. He is the father of three children, including State Representative Maria Antonia "Toni" Berrios.

References

  1. ^ "Joseph Berrios, Candidate for Cook County Assessor". ABC7 News. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. "About Joseph Berrios". Cook County Assessor's Office. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  9. Daniel J. Kelley (7 April 2010). "Run Forrest Run! Claypool in Race". Chicago Daily Observer.
  10. "Nedza's fate mirrors his mentor's". Chicago Tribune. 1987-08-14.
  11. 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.
  12. "Democrat leader Lyons to resign next month". Chicago Tribune. 2007-01-10.
  13. Ciokajlo, Mickey (2007-02-02). "Democrats elect a new chief; County party names 1st Hispanic leader". Chicago Tribune.
  14. Gibson, Ray (1995-02-24). "Hunt For 'Ghosts' Goes Beyond City". Chicago Tribune.
  15. Dardick, Hal (2009-08-06). "Cook County Assessor James Houlihan won't seek re-election". Chicago Tribune.
  16. "Cook County Assessor James Houlihan Announces He Won't Run Again". Chicago Tribune. WGN-AM. 2009-08-06.
  17. "Cook County assessor, Chicago Tribune Election Center". Chicago Tribune.
  18. 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)
  19. "Stroger and Berrios". Chicago Tribune. 2010-05-12.
  20. "Assessor Insider". Chicago Tribune. 2009-09-10.
  21. "Tomorrow's tragedy: Berrios as assessor". Chicago Sun-Times. 2009-09-08.
  22. "For Cook County assessor, Democratic: Figueroa". Daily Herald. 2010-01-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  23. Dardick, Hal (2010-06-21). "Claypool files paperwork to get in Cook County assessor race". Chicago Tribune.
  24. 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.
  25. Mihalopoulus, Dan (2010-06-21). "Challenges Loom for Claypool Signatures". Chicago News Cooperative. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. Warren, James (2010-05-28). "Preparing for a Challenge in the Race for Assessor". New York Times. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  27. Cox, Ted (2010-06-29). "Berrios drops challenge to Claypool's independent run". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  28. Kirk, Jim (2010-10-02). "Preckwinkle, Berrios Cruise To Victories in Cook County". Chicago News Cooperative. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  29. "Claypool concedes, Berrios winner in Cook County assessor race". Chicago Tribune. 2010-11-02.
  30. ^ 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)
  31. Dardick, Hal (2010-09-13). "Cook County commissioners back ethics reform; Measures become fodder in lead-up to assessor contest in November". Chicago Tribune.
  32. Cox, Ted (2011-03-01). "Cook ethics board probes Berrios". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  33. ^ 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)
  34. Donovan, Lisa (2011-03-01). "Lawyers warned their Berrios contributions could be illegal". Chicago Sun-Times.
  35. Donovan, Lisa (2011-02-28). "County legal opinion: Campaign finance law aimed at Berrios likely unconstitutional". Chicago Sun-Times.
  36. Donovan, Lisa (2011-06-01). "Cook County campaign finance law too strict, attorney says". Chicago Sun-Times.
  37. Donovan, Lisa (2011-06-14). "County rolls back campaign contribution limits aimed at Assessor Joe Berrios". Chicago Sun-Times.
  38. Donovan, Lisa (2011-12-15). "County drops probe of donations to Assessor Berrios from tax attorneys". Chicago Sun-Times.
  39. Schmidt, Kate (2011-12-16). "Shameless Joe". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  40. Dardick, Hal (2010-12-08). "Berrios puts son, sister on assessor payroll". Chicago Tribune.
  41. Thomas, Charles (2010-12-09). "County assessor defends hiring of family members". ABC7 News. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  42. Hinz, Greg (2010-12-09). "Joe Berrios sins, but the voters who elected him bear the blame". Crain's Chicago Business. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  43. Donovan, Lisa (2010-12-08). "Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister". Chicago Sun-Times.
  44. "Despite criticism, new assessor Berrios hires son, sister". WLS 890AM. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  45. "Ethics? Moi? Berrios says nepotism rules don't apply to him". Chicago Tribune. 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  46. Dardick, Hal (2010-12-22). "County watchdogs issue nepotism letter after Berrios hires son, sister". Chicago Tribune.
  47. "Cook County ethics board investigating Berrios". ABC7 News. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  48. Cox, Ted (2011-01-08). "Cook County Assessor Berrios denies wrongdoing". Daily Herald. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  49. Dardick, Hal (2011-01-06). "Berrios accused of violating patronage curbs". Chicago Breaking News Center. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  50. Bernstein, David (2011-01-17). "Chicago magazine, WGN-TV and BGA investigate potential conflicts of interest at Cook County Board of Ethics". Chicago Magazine.
  51. 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)
  52. 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)
  53. 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)
  54. 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)
  55. Suppelsa, Mark (2011-01-20). "Cook County ethics chairman resigns". WGN-TV. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  56. Dardick, Hal (2011-01-28). "Assessor Berrios lays off 53 part of county budget cuts". Chicago Tribune.
  57. 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)
  58. 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)
  59. 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)
  60. Donovan, Lisa (2011-05-23). "Cook County assessor gave daughter a $10,000 pay raise". Chicago Sun-Times.
  61. "Editorial: Berrios a family guy - too bad for you". Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-05-23.
  62. "Berrios daughter gets $10K raise". ABC7 News. 2011-05-23. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  63. 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)
  64. Donovan, Lisa (2012-06-26). "County ethics board to Assessor Berrios: Fire your son and sister". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  65. Mihalopoulos, Dan; Donovan, Lisa (2012-09-10). "Taxpayers get legal tab for Assessor Joe Berrios' ethics fight over nepotism". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  66. "J B Insurance Consulting Inc". Manta. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  67. "Joseph Berrios". Manta. Retrieved 2012-01-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  68. ^ "Illinois Secretary of State". Retrieved 2012-01-30.
  69. "Claypool is best pick for Cook assessor". Daily Herald. 2010-05-29. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)

External links


Template:Persondata

Categories: