Cook County Treasurer

{{Infobox Political post

| post = Cook County Treasurer

| insignia =

| insigniasize = 150px

| insigniacaption =

| image =

| incumbent = Maria Pappas

| incumbentsince = December 1998

| style =

| residence =

| appointer =

| termlength = 4 years

| formation = 1831

| succession =

| inaugural = Archibald Clybourn

| salary =

| website =

}}

The Cook County treasurer is the treasurer of county government in Cook County, Illinois

Office description

The Cook County treasurer oversees the second-largest system of property tax collection and distribution in the United States.{{cite web |title=Cook County Treasurer's Office - Chicago, Illinois |url=https://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/dutiesandresponsibilities.aspx |website=www.cookcountytreasurer.com |publisher=Cook County Treasurer |accessdate=5 November 2020}} The inaugural holder of the office of treasurer was Archibald Clybourn, an early settler of Cook County.{{cite book |title=History of Cook County, Illinois: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time |date=1884 |publisher=A.T. Andreas |page=352 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=V_A1AQAAMAAJ&q=n.b.+boyden+coroner|language=en}} The office was established in 1831, and since 1835 has been an elected, partisan position. Its elected terms were initially two years in length-{{cite web |title=Officers of Cook County The Names of Officer-Holders from the Beginning |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/353914470 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=5 February 2025 |language=en |date=December 12, 1867}} Prior to 1835, it was appointed by the three-member Cook County Board of Commissioners. Today the terms are four years.

The treasurer holds responsibility for printing and mailing bills based on data they are provided by other county and state agencies regarding assessments, exemptions, and tax rate. The treasurer is responsible for the collection of $12 billion in taxes annually from owners of over 1.8 million parcels of property. The treasurer is responsible for the distribution of tax funds to approximately 2,200 local government agencies with the jurisdiction to collect taxes, including school districts, municipalities, townships, park systems, forest preserve systems, libraries, public health and safety agencies, election authorities, economic-development agencies, and public-works bonds. The treasurer needs to maintain an investment policy and strategy. The treasurer is tasked with receiving and safely keeping revenues and other public funds of the county, and all other money authorized by the law to be paid to them, and to disburse these funds in accordance to the law.

Under state law, to assist them with the execution of their duties, the treasurer appoints deputies, assistants, and personnel. The treasurer must file regular reports with the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners providing summary of the financial status of their office. The treasurer also, per state law, oversees the process of refunding overpayment of taxes.

As of 2022, the salary paid to the elected Cook County treasurer is $115,500.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-03 |title=Cook County board members vote to increase their own pay |url=https://www.illinoispolicy.org/cook-county-board-gives-itself-10-raise-automatic-future-pay-increasescook-county-board-gives-itself-10-raise-automatic-future-pay-increases/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=Illinois Policy}} As of October 2021, the Cook County treasurer's office has 58 employees and a total annual budget of $12,703,015.{{Cite web |last=Cook County Treasurer's Office |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas - State of the Office 2022 |url=https://www.cookcountyil.gov/sites/g/files/ywwepo161/files/documents/2022-03/Treasurer%202022%20IT%20Strategic%20Plan_0.pdf |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=cookcountyil.gov}}

Officeholders

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! colspan="2" |Treasurer

! scope="col" |Term in office

! scope="col" |Party

! scope="col" |Notes

! scope="col" |Cite

style="height:2em;"

| File:Archibald Clybourn Portrait.png

! Archibald Clybourn

| March 1831–March 1834

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! Isaac Harmon

| March 1834–March 1835

style="height:2em;"

! Henry Kimball

| March 1835–March 1836

| The first elected Treasurer

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! Samuel J. Trowbridge

| March 1836–June 1837

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! Edward E. Hunter

| June 1837–May 1838

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| 133x133px

! John Calhoun

| May 1838–June 1839

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! Nathan H. Bolles

| June 1839–October 1839

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! Isaac Cook

| October 1839–August 1843

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! Anton Getzler

| August 1843–August 1847

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! William L. Church

| August 1847–November 1849

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! James Long

| November 1849–November 1851

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! Horatio N. Heald

| 1851–1855

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! Michael Gleason

| 1855–1857

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! Augustus H. Boyden

| 1857–1861

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| File:Jacob Rehm.jpg

! Jacob Rehm

| 1861–1865

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! Jesse M. Allen

| 1865–1867

style="height:2em;"

| 133x133px

! Thomas O. Osborn

| November 1867–1869

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! H.S. Rexford

| 1869–1871

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| File:Julianrumsey.jpeg

! Julian Sidney Rumsey

| 1871–1873

| Republican

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! Henry B. Miller

| 1873–1875

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! Louis C. Huck

| 1875–1877

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! S.H. McCrea

| 1877–1879

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! William T. Johnson

| 1879–1882

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! William C. Seipp

| 1882–1886

| Democratic

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! John R. Thompson

| ____–1910

| Republican

| {{cite book |title=Chicago Daily News National Almanac for 1910 |year=1909 |publisher=Chicago Daily News |page=459 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MSAfAQAAMAAJ |accessdate=11 November 2020 |language=en}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:W. L. O'Connell (1).png

! W. L. O'Connell

| 1910–____

| Democratic

| {{cite book |title=Chicago Daily News National Almanac for 1911 |publisher=Chicago Daily News |page=468 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.29891050 |accessdate=11 November 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=PARTY LEADERS |url=https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=CHE19150807.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN--------- |accessdate=11 November 2020 |work=Chicago Eagle |date=7 August 1915}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:H. R. Gibbons (1).png

! H. R. Gibbons

| December 1918–April 19, 1921

| Democratic

| Elected in 1918; died in office

| {{cite web |title=County Treasurer Dead New Man Is Appointed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/33408162 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Forest Park Review (Forest Park, Illinois) |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=23 Apr 1921}}

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| File:P.J. Carr.jpg

! Patrick J. Carr

| April 20, 1921–____

| Appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners on April 20, 1921

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| File:George F. Harding a (3x4).jpg

! George F. Harding Jr.

| 1926–30

| {{cite web |title=Essay about George F. Harding, Jr. |url=https://archive.artic.edu/arms-and-armor/resource/1246 |website=archive.artic.edu |publisher=Art Institute of Chicago |access-date=21 December 2024}}

style="height:2em

! Joseph McDonough

| 1930–1934

| Elected in 1930; died in office

| {{cite web |last1=Harper |first1=Dan |title=Subject and Course Guides: Daley Family Collections: About Richard J. Daley |url=https://researchguides.uic.edu/DaleyFamily/RJDbio |website=researchguides.uic.edu |accessdate=11 November 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Bridgport: Politics |url=https://lockzero.org.uic.edu/V.html |website=lockzero.org.uic.edu |accessdate=11 November 2020}}

style="height:2em;"

| File:Robert E. Sweitzer (1919).jpg

! Robert Sweitzer

| December 4, 1934–1935

| Democratic

| Elected in 1934, removed from office by vote of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1935

| {{cite web |title=ROBERT SWEITZER, CHICAGO POLITICIAN; Democratic Leader There for Quarter of a Century Is Dead at 69 COUNTY CLERK 24 YEARS Elected Treasurer in 1934—Began Career as Salesman After Leaving College |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1938/04/07/archives/robert-sweitzer-chicago-politician-democratic-leader-there-for.html |website=The New York Times |accessdate=March 15, 2020 |date=April 7, 1938}}

style="height:2em;"

! Joseph L. Gill

| 1935–???

| Democratic

| Appointed in 1935

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! Herbert C. Paschen

| 1954–1958

| Democratic

| {{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Herbert C. Paschen |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=114448 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com |access-date=21 December 2020}}

style="height:2em;"

! Francis S. Lorenz

| 1958–September 1961

| Democratic

| Elected in 1958; resigned to accept appointment as Illinois Treasurer

| {{cite web |title=Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois on December 1, 1958 · 23 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/370728636/ |website=Newspapers.com |access-date=21 December 2020 |language=en}}'Illinois Blue Book 1961-1962,' Biographical Sketch of Francis S. Lorenz, pg. 106-107'Retired Illinois appeals Judge Francis S. Lorenz dies at age 93-Public service career includes Chicago city lawyer, Cook County treasurer and state transportation chief,' Chicago Tribune, Mary Owens, July 2, 2008

style="height:2em;"

! Bernard J. Korzen

| {{cite web |title=Illinois blue book, 1973-1974 |url=http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/37259 |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |page=542 |language=en}}

style="height:2em;"

! scope="row" |Edward J. Rosewell

| December 1974–December 1998

| Democratic

| Elected in 1974, 1988, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994

| {{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Matt |title=ROSEWELL MAKES DEAL IN GHOST-JOBS PROBE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-26-9811260070-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |accessdate=13 October 2020 |date=26 November 1998}}

style="height:2em;"

! scope="row" |Maria Pappas

| December 1998–present

| Democratic

| Elected in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2019, 2014, 2018, 2022

Recent election results

| colspan=16 style="text-align:center;" |Cook County Treasurer general elections

!Year

!Winning candidate

!Party

!Vote (pct)

!Opponent

!Party

! Vote (pct)

!Opponent

!Party

! Vote (pct)

!Opponent

!Party

! Vote (pct)

|1986{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1986 |url=http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/archive/1986NovCombinedSummary.pdf |website=voterinfo.net |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003205005/http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/archive/1986NovCombinedSummary.pdf |archivedate=3 October 2008}}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Edward J. Rosewell

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 905,190 (68.78%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Richard M. Hetzer

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 410,909 (31.22%)

|1990{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1990 |url=http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/archive/1990NovCombinedSummary.pdf |website=voterinfo.net |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003205145/http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/archive/1990NovCombinedSummary.pdf |archivedate=3 October 2008}}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Edward J. Roswell

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 710,699 (58.03%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Thomas D. Eilers

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 357,673 (29.21%)

|Text style="background:#D2B48C | Charles W. Alexander

|Text style="background:#D2B48C | Harold Washington Party

|Text style="background:#D2B48C | 156,294 (12.76%)

|1994

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Edward J. Roswell

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Jean Reyes Pechette

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|Text style="background:#D2B48C | Robert J. Pettis

|Text style="background:#D2B48C | Harold Washington Party

|Text style="background:#D2B48C |

| John Justice

| Populist

|1998{{cite web |title=OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1998 |url=https://results.cookcountyclerkil.gov/electionresults/110398/1998NovemberCombinedSUMMARY.pdf |website=results.cookcountyclerkil.gov }}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 978,373 (77.79%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Anthony Peraica

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 279,355 (22.21%)

|2002{{cite web |title=TABULATED STATEMENT OF THE RETURNS AND PROCLAMATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS OF THE ELECTION RETURNS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ALL THE WARDS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2002 A.D. |url=https://app.chicagoelections.com/documents/proclamations/Proc-2002-11-05.pdf |publisher=Chicago Board of Election Commissioners |accessdate=18 June 2020}}{{cite web |title=SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY RESULTS |url=http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/11502results/ |website=voterinfonet.com |publisher=Cook County Clerk |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209124209/http://www.voterinfonet.com/results/11502results/ |archivedate=9 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 998,480 (76.20%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Richard J. Daniels

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 311,787 (23.80%)

|2006{{cite web |title=Cook County and the City of Chicago Combined Summary Report November 2006 General Election Tuesday, November 7th, 2006 |url=https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sites/default/files/2006NovemberCombinedSUMMARY.pdf |publisher=Cook County Clerk's Office |accessdate=16 March 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922154748/https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/2006NovemberCombinedSUMMARY.pdf |url-status=dead }}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 1,074,756 (83.70%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Erik Peck

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 209,253 (16.30%)

|2010{{cite web |title=Cook County General Election November 2, 2010 Combined Summary Report |url=https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sites/default/files/Combined_Summary_Report_110210.pdf |publisher=Cook County Clerk's Office |accessdate=16 March 2020}}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 1,042,318 (77.21%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Carol A. Morse

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 307,612 (22.79%)

|2014{{cite web |title=General Election Cook County and The City of Chicago Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Combined Summary |url=https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sites/default/files/CombinedSummaryReport110414%20%281%29.pdf |publisher=Cook County Clerk's Office |accessdate=16 March 2020 |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128082518/https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/CombinedSummaryReport110414%20(1).pdf |url-status=dead }}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 1,048,234 (100%)

|2018{{Cite web |title=Cook County and The City of Chicago General Election November 6, 2018 Combined Summary |url=https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sites/default/files/CombinedSummary.pdf |access-date=March 9, 2020 |publisher=Cook County Clerk's Office |archive-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708233020/https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/CombinedSummary.pdf |url-status=dead }}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | 1,447,145 (99.26%)

| Others

| Write-ins

| 10,780 (0.74%)

|2022{{cite web |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the November 8, 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Held in Each of the Precincts in Cook County, Illinois Including the City of Chicago |url=https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/November%208%2C%202022%20Proclamation%20Cook%20and%20Chicago.pdf |website=www.cookcountyclerkil.gov |publisher=Cook County Clerk |access-date=6 December 2022 |date=2022}}

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Maria Pappas

|{{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |1,063,160 (75.41%)

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Peter Kopsaftis

|{{party shading/Republican}} | Republican

|{{party shading/Republican}} | 314,013 (22.28%)

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} | Michael Murphy

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} | Libertarian

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} | 32,577 (2.31%)

Cook County Treasurer

Office description

Officeholders

Recent election results

References