Pat Hynes, a Democrat, is running for Cook County Assessor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Libertarian candidate Nico Tsatsoulis.

Hynes has said he is running to restore public trust in the assessor's office, which sets property valuations that drive tax bills for residents and businesses across the county. He says the current system relies on outdated and error-filled data, according to his campaign website. Hynes has said his experience in the property tax field makes him ready to correct the property tax rolls and deliver assessments the public can trust.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Beverly native, according to his campaign Facebook page
  • Background: Hynes has stated he has more than 30 years of experience in the property tax field. He describes himself as a husband and "Girl Dad."

Experience and public service

  • Lyons Township Assessor, 2021 to present (elected office), according to BallotReady
  • Senior Residential Field Inspector, Cook County Assessor's Office, 2004 to 2021, according to BallotReady
  • Firefighter, Western Springs Fire Department, 2012 to present, according to BallotReady

On the issues

The following positions reflect Hynes' own statements from his campaign website and a Civic Federation forum.

Property tax accuracy and staffing

Hynes has said Cook County's property tax assessments are "built on outdated and error-filled data, leaving taxpayers with little confidence that their bills are fair." He has proposed expanding the team of field inspectors, strengthening training for current staff and reinstating what he called "a culture of professionalism." He has also called for investing in continuing education and professional certifications for frontline employees to align with industry best practices.

Reassessment frequency

Hynes opposed moving to an annual reassessment model at a Civic Federation forum. He said volatility in assessments is the real issue, not how often reassessments happen. He proposed better data collection and record keeping to support a more robust and reliable assessment system, along with property tax relief programs to lower the burden on taxpayers.

Economic development

Hynes has said he would establish a dedicated Department of Economic Development within the assessor's office. He said the department would bring together residents, small businesses and industry leaders to create partnerships that fuel local growth and attract new opportunities.

Endorsements

The following endorsements are reported by BallotReady, credited to the endorsing organizations:

  • Cook County Democrats
  • Chicago Federation of Labour
  • IUOE Local 150
  • International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
  • Citizen Action Illinois
  • American Arab Chamber of Commerce

Evanston Wire also published a profile of Nico Tsatsoulis. Policy positions and background details in this article are drawn from the candidate's own campaign materials and public forum statements unless otherwise noted.