Kaegi prevails over Steele in Democratic primary for Cook County assessor

Voters Tuesday seemed to prefer incumbent Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi in a Democratic primary that was largely a referendum on the changes he's made to the office in the 3½ years since he defeated the scandal-plagued Joe Berrios in a primary.

With 98% of precincts counted in the suburbs and over 95% in Chicago, Kaegi had 224,332 votes, or 53.6% of the total, to challenger Kari K. Steele's 194,067.

While Kaegi touted his changes. including technological upgrades to the assessment system, as reforms that improved fairness and transparency in the office, Steele criticized them as ineffective and even counterproductive.

Steele, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, said she wanted to bring the management experience she's gained there to the assessor's office.

Libertarian Nico Tsatsoulis has filed to face the winning Democrat in the Nov. 8 general election.