2002 was a midterm election year in the United States. The primaries and general elections for Cook County races coincided with those for federal (Senate and House) and those for state elections.
Voter turnout in Cook County during the primaries was 36.69%. The city of Chicago saw 39.87% turnout and suburban Cook County saw 33.40% turnout.[3][4][5][6]
In the 2002 Cook County Assessor election, incumbent Assessor James Houlihan, a Democrat first appointed in 1997 who was reelected in 1998, was again reelected.[7]
In the 2002 Cook County Board of Review election, all three seats, two Democratic-held and one Republican-held, were up for election.
Beginning with the 2002 elections, the Cook County Board of Review has had its three seats rotate the length of terms. In a staggered fashion (in which no two seats have coinciding two-year terms), the seats rotate between two consecutive four-year terms and a two-year term.[9]
Incumbent first-term member Maureen Murphy, a Republican, was reelected, being unopposed in both the Republican primary and general election. This election was to a four-year term.[9]
No candidates, ballot-certified or formal write-in, ran in the Democratic primary.[3][5] The Democratic Party ultimately nominated Brendan F. Houlihan.[1]
Incumbent first-term member Joseph Berrios, a Democrat, was reelected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election. Berrios had not only served since the Board of Review was constituted in 1998, but had also served on its predecessor organization, the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, for ten years. This election was to a four-year term.[9]
In the 2006 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, three of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election in an at-large race.[3][4] Since three six-year seats were up for election, voters could vote for up to three candidates and the top-three finishers would win.
Two Democratic incumbents Kathy Meany and Cynthia Santos, won reelection. They were joined in being elected by fellow Democrat Frank Avila. One Democratic incumbent, Martin Sandoval, had withdrawn ahead of the Democratic primary.[1][2][10]
