Cook County Democrats mostly sticking with incumbents on primary slate — but Assessor Fritz Kaegi is in limbo

Former Chicago Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) was a late entry Thursday in the field of candidates seeking the Cook County Democratic Party’s endorsement for commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago in next year’s primary election.

It’d be a new title for the longtime Far South Side City Council member, but familiar territory, he said.

“I know a lot about crap. I was an alderman for 20 years,” Brookins joked to party leaders.

Sources told the Sun-Times Brookins likely won’t get the county Democrats’ blessing for a spot on the water rec board, with four incumbents in position to get their coveted endorsements when slating concludes this week.

That was a common theme among the first parade of candidates to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall on the South Side, all making their cases for party endorsements that for generations have brought the political foot soldiers and campaign money that often propels Chicago-area Democrats to office.

Like Brookins, party leaders largely stuck to what — and who — they know best.

Committee votes signaled incumbent water reclamation commissioners Precious Brady-Davis, Cameron Davis, Beth McElroy Kirkwood and Eira Corral Sepúlveda will officially get party nods on Friday, sources said.

They each had to elbow aside four other candidates who threw hats into the wastewater ring, including Brookins.

Most other county office-holders did not face challengers, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who chairs the party that will endorse her for a fifth term as chief executive.

“I will serve the entire term,” said Preckwinkle, whose 79th birthday falls on the March 17, 2026, primary.

“We all know the stakes right now: our democracy is under threat,” she said, slamming President Donald Trump.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) showed up at Thursday’s who’s-who, criticizing the timing of the slating eight months before the election — but not taking the stage to seek an endorsement as he considers challenging Preckwinkle.

“People are still getting their ducks in a row,” Reilly said.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Clerk Monica Gordon and Treasurer Maria Pappas didn’t have to duck any challengers, either.

The flamboyantly dressed Pappas touted a new interactive map of tax increment financing districts her office will soon release, but acknowledged most people won’t follow such civic studies.

“I wish that all of this stuff mattered to people, but it doesn't. The only thing anybody wants is one of my calendars… and they want to know what kind of a shirt I have on,” she said — wearing a hot-pink sweater emblazoned with the phrase “All this and brains, too.”

The only incumbents potentially in danger of missing out on party endorsements were Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele.

Three challengers to Kaegi pointed to issues uncovered by media outlets including the Sun-Times, which found in May that his office has mistakenly handed out more than $930,000 in property tax breaks to homeowners and businesses during his tenure.

Timnetra Burruss, chief deputy of the Board of Review, blamed Kaegi for “thousands upon thousands of errors.” Lyons Township Assessor Patrick Hynes said the incumbent was behind “wild swings in property assessments.” And Dana Pointer, outreach director at the Board of Review, said Kaegi has a “complete disregard for industry standards.”

Kaegi said he’s “brought fairness, ethics, and transparency to our office,” and, with Preckwinkle, has ironed out a “road map” to fixing commercial assessments.

“Yes, this is a lot of work, but I know we can all do this,” he told party leaders.

It wasn’t enough for Kaegi to get the 50%-plus-1 committee majority needed for an endorsement recommendation — so he and his challengers will be up for a vote before the full party leadership on Friday, sources said.

Committee members opted not to endorse at all for the Board of Review seat held by Commissioner Samantha Steele, who faced a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence stemming from a crash last fall.

“Yes, I have made some mistakes, but I am human, and I ask for grace,” Steele said. “But the work I've done at the Board of Review speaks for itself.”

But the party wasn't expected to pick a side among Steele, Liz Nicholson and Vincent Pace, sources said.

Party leaders have a higher-profile roster of candidates to vet on Friday, most notably the three Democratic heavyweights vying for retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat: U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.

And following Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s announcement that she won’t seek a fourth term, at least three candidates will seek the party's blessing: state Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago; Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim and state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago.

State Sen. Javier Cervantes, D-Chicago, had initially signed up as a comptroller candidate but withdrew.

Other big names aren’t expected to face any challenges for party endorsements, including Gov. JB Pritzker, his new lieutenant governor candidate Christian Mitchell and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias — who could face questions about whether he’ll enter the Chicago mayoral race that’s already heating up.