Elizabeth Nicholson is the Democratic nominee for Cook County Board of Review Commissioner in District 2, which covers North Shore communities and other parts of suburban Cook County. She is certified for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Nicholson said she is seeking the seat to ensure every taxpayer appealing their tax assessment gets a fair chance to reduce their property tax bill. The office affects what North Shore homeowners pay in property taxes each year.
Nicholson, 58, won the March 17 Democratic primary with 62.3% of the vote, collecting 141,362 votes to incumbent Samantha Steele's 85,444, according to WBEZ. WBEZ described Nicholson as a longtime adviser to former Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Age: 58 as of the March 2026 primary, according to WTTW's 2026 Primary Voter's Guide
- Education: Bachelor's degree in human relations and family studies (1989); master's degree in social service administration from the University of Illinois (1991), according to BallotReady
Experience and public service
Nicholson's career spans state government and Democratic politics, according to BallotReady and WTTW profile data:
- Senior advisor, National Democratic County Officials (2023)
- Owner, Liz Nicholson & Associates (2019–present)
- Finance director, Senate Democratic Victory Fund (2009–2019)
- Chief operating officer, Illinois Department of Central Management Services
- Deputy director, Illinois Department of Employment Security
- Top aide to Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State's office
On the issues
Nicholson has outlined several priorities for the office. All positions below are the candidate's own statements.
Property tax appeals access: Nicholson said she would make the appeals process more accessible and transparent for working families and small businesses, not just the politically connected, according to her campaign website.
Public data and equity: Nicholson said she would increase public data access so residents and analysts can track trends in appeals and identify systemic inequities while increasing predictability.
Modernization: She said she would modernize the appeals process with clearer online tools and multilingual support so property owners can understand and advocate for themselves.
Ethics and oversight: Nicholson said she would enforce stricter ethical safeguards to limit the influence of property tax lawyers and special interests on the appeals process.
Community outreach: She said she would create outreach programs partnering with neighborhood groups, schools and libraries to bring Board of Review services directly to residents.
Endorsements
The following organizations have endorsed Nicholson, according to BallotReady:
- IUOE Local 150
- Citizen Action Illinois
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
- Cook County Democrats
Candidate positions are drawn from BallotReady questionnaire responses and the candidate's campaign website. North Shore Weekly presents this profile to help voters evaluate candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.
