Tax appeals board challenger accuses incumbent of electioneering

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Commissioner Patlak of the Cook County Board of Review at a tax appeal seminar. File Photo

Updated: February 14, 2012 10:31AM

It was advertised on a Cook County government website as a chance for property owners to learn about lowering their tax bills.

But it turned out to be a political event, complete with a member of the tax appeals board asking for help with his re-election bid this year.

Now Dan Patlak, the sole Republican on the tax appeals board is facing allegations of electioneering from his opponent in this March’s GOP primary.

“My concern is that Commissioner Patlak has broken the law by electioneering, using his taxpayer-funded position to further his re-election,” said Sean Morrison, 44, of Palos Park, who own a security firm and other businesses.

Morrison said he has a video recording from the Nov. 30 event in which Patlak spoke at the Tinley Orland Palos Tea Party. Morrison said he also has a copy of the announcement on the county’s website for the Board of Review, the official name of the tax appeals board. The event was removed from the website, something Patlak confirmed.

Tom Nally, an election attorney working for Morrison, believes it could violate state election law and is researching the issue.

The law “prohibits the use of public funds to urge anyone to vote for or against a candidate.”

But Patlak says he wasn’t on the clock and that while some Board of Review staff attended the event, they were volunteering.

“No county funds were expended,” he said, acknowledging that the announcement on the county’s website was an error and that he was responsible.

His critics say, though, that it may have brought people out expecting to learn about tax appeals, only to wind up receiving an election pitch, too.

Patlak said he was invited by the suburban tea party group to talk about the role of the three-member tax appeals board and how to appeal property taxes.

“I did take the opportunity to ask for support from the people there,” Patlak said. “My behavior was completely legitimate. And within the law.”