Job Description:

• Determines fair assessments on all residential, commercial and industrial property in Cook County

• One-third of property in the Chicagoland area is reassessed every three years: Property is divided into Northern Suburbs, the Southern Suburbs and the city of Chicago




Party Affiliation — Democrat

Martial Status — Married

Religion — Catholic

Education — Roosevelt University and DePaul University

Political Experience — Alderman of the 31st Ward for one term,
Circuit Court of Cook County Judge for 12 years

Endorsements — Xavier Nogueras, 26th Ward Alderman Roberto Maldonado

Web site — rayfigueroa.com




EXTRA: How you would keep the 7 percent cap?

Ray Figueroa: One of the things [former Cook County Assessor Jim] Houlihan did was the 7 percent cap. The original version was watered down. It is set to expire. The townships are going to get hurt, sticker shocked when they see what happens. On the second day as assessor, I will call out Michael Madigan and the legislators to reinstate the 7 percent cap and make it permanent.



Do you see any reforms that could be made down in Springfield?

Prohibit the lawyers from contributing to the assessor’s office and the board of review. I would like to see the local aldermanic offices be utilized for purposes of appeals. Reinstate those offices in the townships.

The assessor’s office should not be an elected constitutional office of the county; it should be an appointed position. It would have to come from Springfield. The office has often been used for purposes of a patronage army, building campaign coffers, a stepping-stone for going into other offices. It takes ...