A political action committee says the candidacy of Chicago state Rep. Robert Martwick is part of a scheme by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to keep suburban property taxes high.
A direct mail piece sent to District 19 voters by Liberty Principles PAC describes what it calls the "Martwick-Madigan Fix," claiming Madigan requires that candidates he financially supports oppose suburban property tax caps "so he can continue making millions as a property tax appeals attorney."
"If Mike Madigan pays for it, he owns it," the mail piece says.
Robert Martwick
District 19 includes the City of Chicago, and the communities of Leyden, Norwood Park, Elmwood Park, Harwood Heights, Norridge and River Grove.
Madigan earns a living appealing high property taxes, for which he receives a percentage of the reduction. A 2017 analysis found that his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, won cuts of $70 million for its clients between 2008 and 2016.
Liberty Principles PAC, which is supporting Martwick's opponent Ammie Kessem, is pushing a hard 1 percent of home value property tax cap. A home valued at $250,000 would have a bill of $2,500 per year, under its plan.
Daniel K. Proft, founder and president of Liberty Principles PAC, is a principal of Local Government Information Services, which publishes the Chicago City Wire.
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