Schulter on Board of Review? Berrios Isn't Feeling It.

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 5, 2011 8:40PM

Now that Joe Berrios (and his immediate family) are ensconced in the County Assessor's office, Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Tim Evans has to nominate a successor to fill Berrios's former seat at the County Board of Review. Michael Sneed reported that 47th Ward Alderman Eugene Schulter has his eye on filling the vacancy, even though he filed to run for reelection with the Board of Elections. There's one roadblock in place if Schulter wants to abandon the City Council ship. Schulter backed Forrest Claypool in his failed campaign for Assessor. Joe Berrios is chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party and recently discussed with Evans what he felt were the necessary requirements for the job. See where this is going?

Berrios spoke with Early and Often's Hunter Clauss about the tete a tete with Evans, sounding as though he'll get his pound of flesh from Schulter one way or another.

“It is the chief judge’s decision and the Democratic party,” said Berrios. “Whoever the judge chooses, [the Democratic party] will have an opportunity to decide whether the chief judge’s appointment is a gentleman the Democratic party can support and is a gentleman the Democratic party can get behind to win an election. I think you’re going to have people within that district who are mad at Gene for not supporting the Democratic ticket and for going against it.”

In short, Berrios said that, even if Evans decides to appoint Schulter to the Board of Review, he'll use everything at his disposal to ensure Schulter isn't elected to the Board next year. Once again, Berrios shows that simply saying "fuck off" may have been the more tactful approach.