IG Concerned By Potential Conflict Of Interest On Cook County Board Of Review
(CBS) -- Cook County's Inspector General is raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving the panel that reviews property tax appeals, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Inspector General Patrick Blanchard issued a report that says many lawyers who practice before the Cook County Board of Review donate to the political campaigns of the three commissioners on that board.
Blanchard is not suggesting wrongdoing, but says it would be better if lawyers didn't donate. He acknowledges that the board has ethics rules.
"Unfortunately, the conflict of interest section in the ethics policy specifically omits officials when it sets forth the admonitions and the safeguards that we're hoping that the Board of Review will establish in the future," Blanchard said.
Board officials say their policy is specific to the Board of Review and they follow state campaign laws. Previously, the board has argued that it is outside the IG's jurisdiction. A court case on that is underway.