Hynes Criticizes Kaegi’s Record During Cook County Assessor Debate, Calls for New Leadership (Chicago, IL) Cook County Assessor candidate Pat Hynes sharply criticized incumbent Fritz Kaegi during a televised Fox 32 debate, arguing that two terms in office have produced instability and inconsistent property tax assessments that have burdened homeowners across the county.
Hynes, a longtime property tax attorney, sought to draw a clear contrast between his campaign and Kaegi’s tenure, saying the assessor has had ample time to deliver a reliable system for taxpayers but has fallen short. According to Hynes, the result has been uncertainty that disproportionately affected working families, particularly on the South and West sides of Chicago.
During the debate, Kaegi acknowledged problems with assessment shifts that placed heavier burdens on some homeowners, saying, “this shouldn’t have happened, it’s unfair, and I’m concerned.”
Hynes pointed to those remarks as evidence of what he described as ongoing volatility in the assessor’s office. He argued that flawed underlying data has contributed to inconsistent valuations and pledged to prioritize reform if elected.
“We would clean up the underlying data used to produce assessments,” Hynes said during the forum. “The data that’s used to produce the assessment creates an unjust result… it’s very important that we have experience and competence to produce an assessment that taxpayers can have faith in that doesn’t have wild swings in it.”
Hynes also pushed back against what he characterized as a “false choice” for voters, positioning himself as an experienced alternative with decades of advocacy on behalf of property owners.
“There’s a third choice — to have a competent assessor who’s been advocating for taxpayers for 30 years,” he said.
Throughout the debate, Hynes emphasized themes of consistency, transparency and accountability, arguing that homeowners need predictability in their tax bills and clearer explanations of how assessments are calculated.
He also spoke about the personal impact of property taxes on residents, describing conversations with homeowners struggling to remain in their properties amid rising costs.
“I have had thousands of conversations with taxpayers, emotional conversations, because your home is the most emotional asset that you will ever own,” Hynes said. “I am laser focused on bringing down property tax rates, bringing down residential property tax burdens, keeping people in their homes, also getting us building again.”
The Cook County assessor race is expected to draw significant attention as property tax concerns remain a central issue for homeowners and local governments alike. Hynes said his campaign is rooted in years of experience and a commitment to stabilizing assessments and strengthening confidence in the system.
Hynes Criticizes Kaegi’s Record During Cook County Assessor Debate, Calls for New Leadership
