Cook County Democrats declined to endorse Board of Review incumbent Commissioner Samantha Steele for re-election, instead backing Liz Nicholson. Cook County Inspector General found she omitted public-sector clients on her Leonor Group’s economic-interest statements, breaching fiduciary duties. The ethics board fined her for leaking confidential info during a Bears property-tax hearing, and she is contesting a DUI from last year. She raised just $26,375 last quarter.

Cook County Commissioner Samantha Steele hired Jon Snyder, a federally convicted former official who aided in a corruption probe. Despite knowing his record, Steele kept him on staff until media inquiries prompted his firing. Internal records show ethics violations, which Steele initially ignored.

State Sen. Dan Dernulc introduced a bill requiring Indiana residency for county tax board members after controversy arose over Samantha Steele, a Lake County official living in Illinois, arrested for DUI in Chicago and accused of abusing her position during the arrest.