A political action committee says the candidacy of Elgin state House candidate Richard Johnson is part of a scheme by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to keep suburban property taxes high.
Madigan is almost entirely financing Johnson's campaign. He has given him $362,762 in all, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
A direct mail piece sent to District 65 voters by Liberty Principles PAC describes what it calls the "Johnson-Madigan Fix," claiming Madigan requires candidates he supports oppose suburban property tax caps "so he can continue making millions as a property tax appeals attorney."
Dan Ugaste
"If Mike Madigan pays for it, he owns it," the mail piece says.
District 65 includes all or part of Huntly, Elgin, South Elgin, St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia.
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 Johnson's opponent Dan Ugaste, 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 McHenry Times.
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