CHICAGO (AP) — Democrat Joseph Berrios will be Cook County's next assessor, defeating independent Forrest Claypool.
With 79 percent of precincts reporting, Berrios had about 47 percent of the vote, compared with Claypool's 32 percent. Republican Sharon Strobeck-Eckersall had about 18 percent and the Green Party's Robert Grota received nearly 3 percent.
Berrios has been involved in Democratic politics since he was a teenager. He's a member of the county's tax appeals board.
He's also faced criticism for his relatives' jobs and alleged tax breaks for friends and political donors.
Claypool conceded Tuesday evening. He's a county commissioner who was the former chief of staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan is retiring.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
