Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman: 2026 candidate for Cook County Board District 17

Bio

Office sought: Cook County Board District 17

Party: Republican

City: Orland Park

Age: 61

Previous offices held: Cook County Commissioner/Forest Preserve Commissioner

Q&A

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I was elected Cook County Commissioner four times—in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. Since then, I’ve served as Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway, an RTA board director, Director at PWC and a bank director for Old Plank Trail, a Wintrust charter. I know how county government works, and I’ve kept the relationships I built with officials at every level of government.

What motivates me is the pressure families and seniors face from property taxes and the rising cost of living, along with concerns about public safety. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police encouraged me to run again because they know my record of standing with law enforcement.

I want to put my experience and those working relationships to use for the 17th District. As I did before, I would treat being commissioner as a full-time job and be accessible to the people I represent.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you’ve led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

I fought tax increases while offering solutions to reduce spending. My accomplishments include:

--Led repeal of the county's 1% sales-tax increase and co-sponsored wheel-tax relief for seniors.

--Secured funding for the Domestic Violence Courthouse, improving safety and access to justice for victims and their families.

--Supported abolishing the TB Sanitarium District and its separate tax levy, consolidating services within the County Health Dept.

--Supported eliminating the Regional Superintendent of Schools office and consolidating the Recorder of Deeds and County Clerk offices.

--Supported FPD Land Use Policy reforms to protect open space and led major improvements to Swallow Cliff.

Since leaving the Board, I've served as Illinois Tollway Exec Director, RTA Director, PwC State & Local Govt Director a bank director, and an energy company expanding my public- and private-sector experience in finance, management, transportation and infrastructure.

My priorities are property-tax relief, fiscal responsibility, public safety, flood mitigation and shared services. I'll use my experience and relationships to collaborate and get results.

What initiatives would you support to increase revenue and/or save money?

Cook County taxpayers have had enough of rising property taxes. With hundreds of units of government operating within Cook County, we need to aggressively identify opportunities to share services, eliminate duplication and reduce costs.

I would pursue an independent analysis of Cook County, the Forest Preserves, MWRD and other governmental agencies to identify shared-service opportunities in procurement, fleet management, technology, maintenance and administration.

Most importantly, independently verified savings should not simply go back into government budgets for more spending. I would support capturing those savings in a dedicated fund for property tax relief, flood-mitigation infrastructure and other priority capital projects.

Talk about property tax reform is not enough. Reducing the cost of government is one way to provide meaningful relief, and it requires commissioners willing to pursue consolidation and shared services rather than protect the status quo.

Is there a specific service or amenity that is lacking in the county? If so, how do you propose to provide and fund it?

Cook County constituents need property tax relief, while many communities also need greater investment in flood-control infrastructure. We should look first for savings within government rather than automatically turning to taxpayers for additional revenue.

I would open the door to businesses with three practical steps: a website where vendors can submit cost-saving products and services; targeted challenges asking for solutions to costly problems such as energy, fleet, technology and building maintenance; and competitive pilot programs to test ideas before the county makes a major investment.

Proposals should show what they will cost, how much they can save and how long it will take for the savings to cover the investment. Where legally permitted, verified savings should go toward property tax relief, flood mitigation and needed infrastructure—not simply fund more spending. Verified savings should not go back into government for additional spending but, where legally permissible, directed toward property tax relief, flood mitigation and priority infrastructure projects.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

Yes. Bipartisanship and cooperation are essential to effective county government. During my previous service on the County Board, I successfully worked across the aisle and built relationships that helped me get things accomplished for the district that I was fortunate to represent and that style of work contributed to voters electing me four times.

That continued as Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway and as an RTA Board Director, where I worked with and maintained relationships with officials from both parties and at different levels of government to address regional transportation and infrastructure issues.

Working together doesn’t mean everyone has to vote the same way. The 17th District is the county’s only Republican-held board seat, and having a different perspective matter for checks and balances. A commissioner’s first responsibility is to constituents—not party bosses or protecting the status quo.

I have shown that I can work across party lines and work with people who disagree while maintaining my independence. I would bring that same approach to property tax reform, public safety, infrastructure and reducing the cost of government.

What is your stance on county board members' pay? Is it too high, too low, or just right? Would you propose any changes?

I would not vote for a pay raise for the County Board and I never have. Commissioner pay should reflect the responsibilities of the job and reflect what taxpayers can afford.

I am open to freezing future salary increases when the county faces significant projected budget shortfalls or hasn't made meaningful government reforms.

I would support reviewing the existing system of automatic annual increases and consider tying future changes to clear financial and reform goals for future compensation decisions, within the limits of the law.

I have always treated the position of Cook County Commissioner as a full-time responsibility, and that commitment would not change. I maintained a strong attendance record, missing very few meetings.

Residents should expect their commissioner to be accessible, show up, do the work and be accountable for results. County officials should hold themselves to the same financial discipline they ask of taxpayers.

What is the most important issue facing the county in your district and how should it be addressed?

The most important issue is the burden of property taxes and the growing cost of government. When I last served on the County Board, the FY2015 budget was approximately $4 billion; today it is $10.12 billion. We need to open government to ideas beyond the traditional tax-and-spend approach.

I would pursue independent analysis of shared services among Cook County, the Forest Preserves, MWRD and other governmental agencies to eliminate duplication and identify verified savings.

I would also create a vendor cost-savings portal, targeted innovation challenges and competitive pilot programs to bring private-sector ideas and technology into government. Vendors should demonstrate measurable savings and a defined payback before taxpayers make major investments.

Where legally permissible, I would direct verified savings to property tax relief, flood-mitigation infrastructure and other priorities instead of letting them get swallowed by more spending. Property tax reform must start with reducing the cost of government.