Scott R. Britton
{{Short description|American local government official}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Scott Britton
| office = Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
from the 14th district
| term_start = December 3, 2018
| term_end =
| predecessor = Gregg Goslin
| successor =
| office1 = Member of the Glenview, Illinois Board of Trustees
| term_start1 = 2007
| term_end1 = 2018
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Macon, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Millikin University (BA)
University of Illinois (JD)
| image =
}}
Scott R. Britton is an elected American local government official in Cook County, Illinois.
He is currently a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners representing the 14th District of Cook County which includes Arlington Heights, Barrington, Glencoe, Glenview, Inverness, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Palatine, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, Wilmette and Winnetka. as well as parts of Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park and Deerfield.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=CB14.pdf |url=https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/Cook%20County%20Board%20District%2014%20-%202022.pdf |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2019-01-04 |website=www.cookcountyclerk.com}} Prior to his tenure on the Board of Commissioners, Britton served as a village trustee in Glenview.{{Cite web|last=Kukulka|first=Alexandra|title=Glenview trustee resigns after winning Cook County Board seat|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/ct-gla-britton-cook-county-board-tl-1115-story.html|access-date=2021-03-08|website=chicagotribune.com}}
Personal life
Britton grew up in Macon, Illinois. He received his B.A. at Millikin University, followed by his J.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20181011/scott-r-britton-candidate-profile|title=Scott R. Britton: Candidate Profile|date=2018-10-11|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}} Following his law school graduation in 1985, Britton moved to Chicago.{{Cite web|title=Meet Cook County Commissioner Britton|url=https://www.commissionerscottbritton.com/meet-scott|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Commissioner Britton|language=en}} In 1999, Britton moved to the Glenview area. He served on numerous boards of charitable organizations including North Suburban United Way and Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook.{{Cite web|url=https://scottrbritton.com/about-scott|title=Scott Britton for Cook County Board|website=Scott Britton for Cook County Illinois Board|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}}
In addition to his position as commissioner, Britton is a practicing lawyer at his law firm Ford & Britton PC.{{Cite web|title=ATTORNEY PROFILES|url=https://www.fordbritton.com/copy-of-practice-areas|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Ford Britton|language=en}}
Public service
In 2002, Britton was appointed to the Glenview's District 34 Board of Education and in 2003 was elected to a full term. Following his exit from the school board, Britton was elected as a trustee on Glenview's village board in 2007. He served as a trustee for three terms, before resigning to begin his role at Cook County Commissioner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/news/ct-gla-britton-cook-county-board-tl-1115-story.html|title=Glenview trustee resigns after winning Cook County Board seat|last=Kukulka|first=Alexandra|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}}
Cook County Commissioner
Britton was sworn in on December 3, 2018 after beating Republican incumbent Gregg Goslin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-cook-county-board-new-members-20181203-story.html|title=New Cook County Board members sworn in Monday|last=Pratt|first=Gregory|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-04}} Britton shares district office space in Glenview with Illinois State Senator Laura Fine and Illinois State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/fine-gong-gershowitz-britton-to-host-open-house-at-shared-glenview-office/|title=Fine, Gong-Gershowitz, Britton To Host Open House At Shared Glenview Office |first=Tom |last=Robb |date=2019-04-17|website=Journal Online|access-date=2019-05-03}}
He is chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Litigation and Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations for both Cook County and Forest Preserve District, and chairman of the Botanic Garden committee, Legislation Intergovernmental Relations committee (Cook County and Forest Preserve District), and the Chicago Botanic Garden committee. Additionally, he is a member of the county's Asset Management, Audit, Business and Economic Development, Criminal Justice, Environment & Sustainability, Finance, Litigation, Health and Hospitals, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, Transportation, Technology and Innovation, and Zoning & Building committees. For the Forest Preserve District, Britton serves as a member of the Capital Development, Environment & Sustainability, Litigation, Law Enforcement and Real Estate committees.{{Cite web|url=https://cook-county.legistar.com/Departments.aspx|title=Board of Commissioners of Cook County - Bodies|website=cook-county.legistar.com|access-date=2019-01-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://fpdcc.legistar.com/Departments.aspx|title=Forest Preserve District of Cook County - Bodies|website=fpdcc.legistar.com|access-date=2019-01-04}}
Britton's first piece of legislation, co-sponsored by Larry Suffredin, Cook County Board was Tobacco 21.{{Cite web|url=https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/county-raises-age-to-purchase-tobacco-to-21/|title=County Raises Age To Purchase Tobacco To 21 {{!}} Journal & Topics Media Group|first=Tom |last=Robb |date=2019-01-30|website=Journal Online|access-date=2019-05-03}} Passing unanimously, the legislation bars the sale of tobacco products - including e-cigarettes and vaping products - to anyone under the age of 21 in unincorporated areas in and non-home rule municipalities.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/cook-county-board-approves-24-million-settlement-englewood-four-4-wrongful-convictions/|title=County Board OKs $24M settlement to three men convicted in 'Englewood Four' case|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=2019-05-03}}
Britton also came out in support of Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi's legislation urging data modernization for property tax assessments, asserting that the passage of SB1379 and HB2217 would mean more certainty for the county's smaller taxing bodies from having to pay large refunds if numerous assessment appeals are filed.{{Cite web|url=http://thedailyline.net/chicago/03/01/2019/commissioners-support-kaegis-push-for-more-data-from-property-owners/|title=Commissioners support Kaegi's push for more data from property owners|date=2019-03-01|website=The Daily Line|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}} Britton hosted a listening session in Palatine with Assessor Kaegi, where residents were able to discuss data modernization, appeals and the upcoming triennial reassessment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190319/new-cook-county-assessor-announces-listening-tour|title=New Cook County assessor announces listening tour|date=2019-03-19|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}} Both Britton and Kaegi have committed to making the property tax assessment process more fair and transparent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190406/cook-county-assessor-brings-listening-tour-to-northwest-suburbs|title=Cook County assessor brings listening tour to Northwest suburbs|last=Morgan|first=Scott C.|date=2019-04-06|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}}
In April 2019, Cook County Health opened a new, state of the art facility in Arlington Heights, long supported by Britton as a major step toward health equity and parity for Cook County residents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20190412/cook-county-health-cuts-ribbon-on-outpatient-center-in-arlington-heights|title=Cook County Health Cuts Ribbon on Outpatient Center in Arlington Heights|first=Kate |last=Hedlin|date=2019-04-12|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-03}}
In October of 2019, Commissioner Britton sponsored the Voting Opportunity and Translation Equity (VOTE) Ordinance.{{Cite web|last=Hinton|first=Rachel|date=2019-10-24|title=County to offer citizens ballots in more languages to ensure 'their voices be heard at the polls'|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2019/10/24/20931017/cook-county-ballots-languages-korean-tagalog-voting-rights|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}} The ordinance requires the county clerk to offer fully translated ballots Korean, Tagalog, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Gujarati, and Urdu.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-15|title=What You Need To Know About Language Access At The Polls|url=https://patch.com/illinois/southside/what-you-need-know-language-access-polls|access-date=2021-03-08|website=South Side, IL Patch|language=en}}
Commissioner Britton was a main sponsor of the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance.{{Cite web|first=Tom|last=Robb|date=2020-12-08|title=Britton, Morrison Sponsor County Renters Protection Ordinance |url=https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/britton-morrison-sponsor-county-renters-protection-ordinance/|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Journal Online}} It was passed unanimously by the Cook County Board of Commissioners at the January board meeting.{{Cite web|last=Yin|first=Alice|title=Cook County Board enacts suburban residential tenant, landlord ordinance strengthening renters' rights: 'It's time'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-cook-county-residential-tenant-landlord-ordinance-20210128-affshrzae5chpmwmpdrwqdm4aa-story.html|access-date=2021-03-08|website=chicagotribune.com}} Commissioner Britton's legislation offers protections similar to those that exist for renters in the City of Chicago.{{Cite web|last=Sarraf|first=Isabelle|date=2021-01-28|title=Tenant, landlord rights ordinance unanimously OKed by Cook County Board|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/1/28/22254567/cook-county-board-tenant-landlord-ordinance-lockout-protections-overdue-penalties|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en}}
In November 2022, Commissioner Britton bested Benton Howser to earn a second term representing the 14th District.{{Cite web |last=Coughlin |first=Joe |date=2022-11-09 |title=State, regional incumbents have little trouble denying challengers |url=https://www.therecordnorthshore.org/2022/11/08/state-regional-incumbents-have-little-trouble-ousting-challengers/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Record |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cook County Board of Commissioners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Britton, Scott R.}}
Category:Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
Category:Millikin University alumni
Category:People from Macon County, Illinois