West Cook News

Dan Patlak, a Republican leader and a former Commissioner at the Cook County Board of Tax Review, recently announced his official endorsement for Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison.

Sean Morrison is one of 17 Cook County Commissioners who make up the Board of Commissioners, which is headed by Democrat Toni Preckwinkle. Morrison represents the 17th district, which is home to around 300,000 residents, according to Cook County. 

According to his bio page, Commissioner Morrison was first appointed to the Cook County Board in 2015, and in 2018 he was elected to serve a 4-year term, according to his website. He focuses on fighting the county's "tax and spend" policies, working to reduce government costs and provide tax relief. He wrote the 2017 ordinance that repealed the Cook County Sweetened Beverage (Soda) Tax, and he has also successfully defeated proposals to increase the gasoline tax and cable tax.

The primary election will take place on June 28 where Commissioner Morrison will face off against Republican Liz Gorman.

"When Sean Morrison joined the County Board in 2015, I watched with interest to see how he would perform. After several years, I came to the conclusion that Sean was administering his office with integrity and working in the best interests of his constituents," Patlak said. "This year in the Republican Primary, Sean has been a victim of character assassination of the worst kind by phony Republican opponent Liz Gorman - who has been called 'a weasel' by a Federal Judge and 'someone who is not to be believed' when he ruled against her in a 4-million-dollar lawsuit. Voters cannot trust Liz Gorman. We need to keep Sean Morrison on the County Board where he stands up for us against Kim Foxx and Toni Preckwinkle. Don't be fooled by Liz Gorman's nasty attacks and outright lies against Commissioner Morrison. Please cast your vote for Sean Morrison, a real Republican we can depend on." 

A report from the Better Governance Associates examined Liz Gorman's voting record from the 14 years during which she held a seat on the Cook County Board and found a "troubling trend" of her willingness to vote in exchange for personal advancement, Patch reported. The report describes Gorman as "spectacularly ill-suited to mount a Republican Primary challenge for the Cook County Board of Commissioners." Shortly after Gorman first joined the board, she voted against all other Republican Commissioners to install a Democrat on the Metra Board of Directors, and in exchange Gorman was appointed chair of the panel that appoints Metra Board members. In 2012, Gorman supported Democrat Toni Preckwinke, current Cook County Board President, in raising taxes on parking, alcohol, and tobacco. Gorman also used campaign funds to pay to send herself to a prestigious MBA program.