Patlak leading in Cook Board of Review

Wheeling Township Assessor Dan Patlak was leading in early Republican primary results Tuesday for the chance to advance to the November election to face incumbent Democrat Brendan Houlihan.

Patlak had 45,463 votes versus Palos Park business owner Sean Morrison at 41,034 in unofficial numbers reported from the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County. The Cook County Board of Review is a three-person board that decides whether to lower property tax assessments.

Patlak, 47, had said he would put technology to work to help eliminate paperwork and make the process easier for the taxpayer, adding that the number of appeals continues to increase.

Last year, 284,000 people appealed their taxes, a 205 percent increase over the 93,000 appeals 10 years ago.