Parks activist who defeated Lucas museum among latest Cook County candidates to file Monday

The former head of the Friends of the Parks who defeated George Lucas’ Chicago lakefront museum proposal formally launched her next fight Monday: as a political candidate battling skyrocketing property taxes.

Juanita Irizarry, who headed the parks advocacy group from 2015 to 2023, was among the final candidates to submit nominating petitions at the Cook County Clerk’s office Monday for the March 17, 2026, primary election.

Irizarry, of Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, is set to face incumbent Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas, of Chicago’s McKinley Park, in the Democratic primary for the board’s 1st District — an area that covers much of the Northwest suburbs. The three-member quasi-judicial panel reviews appeals brought by property owners who receive higher valuations set by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.

Irizarry led the legal battle against filmmaker Lucas and then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel over plans for a private museum on public land south of Soldier Field. The litigation led Lucas to abandon the project in 2016 and build instead in Los Angeles.

Irizarry’s campaign website brands her as a “lifelong devotee for justice (who) has taken on billionaires, corrupt politicians, special interests, and won.”

In a campaign announcement video, Irizarry argued that the burden of property taxes has shifted away from large commercial properties onto homeowners because business constantly appeal their taxes to the board of review, and they use tax attorneys who make campaign contributions to commissioners.

She said she won’t accept donations from attorneys and vowed to “unrig” the Cook County tax system.

Cardenas was one of two commissioners who voted in 2024 to set the value of the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Park property at $124.7 million, which was less than the $192 million amount set by Kaegi, but more than the $60 million determined by the Bears’ appraiser. Cardenas said his decision was out of “fairness to the Bears and fairness to Arlington Heights taxing bodies.”

Another Democratic primary battle emerged Monday between embattled 2nd District Commissioner Samantha Steele of Evanston and Liz Nicholson of Chicago. Steele faced ethics violations for leaking information about the Bears’ property tax appeal to the press in 2024, and was charged with driving under the influence after a car crash later in the year.

Among other election contests that took shape on the last day of filing:

Board of commissioners

On the county board, 9th District Commissioner Maggie Trevor of Rolling Meadows is set to face a Democratic primary challenge from Kevin Murphy of Des Plaines. Murphy, who leads a nonprofit snow removal business, filed campaign paperwork Monday.

Also filing was Republican Ammie Kessem, a Chicago police sergeant and real estate agent from Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood.

In the 17th District, which stretches from Des Plaines on the north to Tinley Park on the south, incumbent Sean Morrison of Palos Park filed for reelection Monday. He’ll again be challenged in the Republican primary by former Commissioner Liz Doody Gorman of Orland Park, who filed petitions a week ago. Morrison defeated her primary bid in 2022.

The winner will face Democrat Elyse Hoffenberg of La Grange, who is the Lyons Township Clerk.

Other offices

Democratic primary battles formally launched on the first day of filing last week for two of the county’s top elected positions: Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s bid for a fifth term is being challenged by Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly, while Kaegi will be opposed by Lyons Township Assessor Pat Hynes.

On Monday, Republicans put forward Eric Wallace of Flossmoor for board president, while the Libertarian Party nominated Michael Murphy of Chicago, in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The latter was among a slew of Libertarian candidates for countywide offices revealed Monday: Nico Tsatsoulis of Chicago for assessor, Brad Sandefur of Hanover Park for sheriff, James Humay of Chicago for treasurer, and Geraldine Mulso of Chicago for clerk.

Incumbent Democrats filed for reelection last week, including Sheriff Tom Dart of Chicago, Treasurer Maria Pappas of Chicago, and Clerk Monica Gordon of Chicago Heights.