Democratic Party Rejects Samantha Steele and Endorses Her Opponent

First-term Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele has hit a formidable roadblock in her bid for a second term: the county Democratic Party refused to endorse her, opting instead to endorse her opponent Liz Nicholson. This rare snub comes amid growing concerns over undisclosed outside work, ethics sanctions and a pending DUI charge.

An inquiry by the Cook County inspector general concluded that Steele’s annual economic-interest statements “amounted to a breach of fiduciary duty to the county,” after she failed to specify which government bodies paid her private consulting firm, the Leonor Group. That finding has fueled criticism from transparency advocates who argue that full disclosure is essential to maintaining public trust in those who adjudicate property-tax appeals.

Steele’s ethics woes deepened when the county ethics board fined her for releasing confidential information during a public hearing on the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights property-tax dispute. Steele defended her actions as “the public’s right to know,” calling the penalties “unfair” and claiming she was “singled out” for doing what any commissioner might. Meanwhile, she remains embroiled in a DUI charge dating back to last year, an unresolved legal matter that further tarnishes her image.

Compounding Steele’s challenges is her lackluster fundraising: just $26,375 raised last quarter and roughly $27,000 in campaign funds on hand, figures that pale beside typical incumbent candidates. After briefly considering a run for Cook County Assessor, Steele withdrew to “focus on board work.” Meanwhile, her opponent Liz Nicholson is actively courting party activists, pitching herself as an ethical, results-driven alternative. With her reputation under scrutiny, limited resources and no party endorsement, Steele faces an uphill path to re-election. Voters and taxpayers would do well to watch closely: the three-member Board of Review wields enormous influence over billions in property-tax appeals, and confidence in its impartiality cannot be taken for granted.

Source: A. D. Quig and Rick Pearson, “Cook County Democrats, don’t back Board of Review incumbent Samantha Steele,” Chicago Tribune, July 19, 2024. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/18/cook-democrats-dont-endorse-senate-snug-kaegi/