1998 Cook County, Illinois, elections

1998 Cook County, Illinois, elections

←  1996 November 3, 1998 2000  →
Turnout	54.61%

The Cook County, Illinois, general election was held on November 3, 1998. ^[1]

Primaries were held on March 17, 1998. ^[2]

Elections were held for Assessor, Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 17 seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, all 3 seats of the Cook County Board of Review, 4 seats on the Water Reclamation District Board, and judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Election information

1998 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

Primary election

Voter turnout in Cook County during the primaries was 28.68%. ^[3]

On its own, suburban Cook County saw 23.95% turnout. ^{[2] [4]}

Vote totals of primaries ^[2]

Primary	Chicago vote totals	Suburban Cook County vote totals	Total Cook County vote totals
Democratic	431,146	182,250	613,396
Republican	25,783	136,260	162,043
Libertarian	38	25	63
Reform	112	152	264
Nonpartisan	531	4,283	4,814
Total	457,610	322,970	780,580

General election

The general election saw 54.61% turnout, with 1,433,423 ballots cast. ^[3] Chicago saw 752,506 ballots cast while suburban Cook County saw 53.95% turnout (with 680,917 ballots cast). ^{[1] [4]}

Assessor

1998 Cook County Assessor election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
Turnout	46.71% [1] [3]
Candidate James Houlihan Jose Carlos Gomez Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 926,646 260,245 Percentage 75.58% 21.23%
Assessor before election James Houlihan Democratic Elected Assessor James Houlihan Democratic

In the 1998 Cook County Assessor election, incumbent assessor James Houlihan, a Democrat, was elected to his first full-term. Houlihan had been appointed to the office in 1997, after Thomas Hynes (who had served as Cook County assessor since 1978) opted to resign from the office. ^[5]

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Assessor Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James M. Houlihan (incumbent)	330,292	100
Total votes			330,292	100

Republican

Cook County Assessor Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jose Carlos Gomez	103,091	100
Total votes			103,091	100

General election

Cook County Assessor election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James M. Houlihan (incumbent)	926,646	75.58
	Republican	Jose Carlos Gomez	260,245	21.23
	Justice Party	Philip Morris	39,111	3.19
Total votes			1,226,002	100

Clerk

1998 Cook County Clerk election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
Turnout	48.70% [1] [3]
Candidate David Orr Judie A. Jones Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 988,136 290,256 Percentage 77.30% 22.70%
Clerk before election David Orr Democratic Elected Clerk David Orr Democratic

In the 1998 Cook County Clerk election, incumbent second-term clerk David Orr, a Democrat, was reelected.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Clerk Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Orr (incumbent)	404,839	100
Total votes			404,839	100

Republican

Cook County Clerk Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judith A. "Judie" Jones	109,540	100
Total votes			109,540	100

General election

Cook County Clerk election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Orr (incumbent)	988,136	77.30
	Republican	Judith A. "Judie" Jones	290,256	22.70
Total votes			1,278,392	100

Sheriff

1998 Cook County Sheriff election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
Turnout	48.38% [1] [3]
Candidate Michael F. Sheahan LeRoy Martin Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 903,053 366,867 Percentage 71.11% 28.89%
Sheriff before election Michael F. Sheahan Democratic Elected Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan Democratic

In the 1998 Cook County Sheriff election, incumbent second-term sheriff Michael F. Sheahan, a Democrat, was reelected.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Sheriff Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael F. Sheahan (incumbent)	367,157	100
Total votes			367,157	100

Republican

Former Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department LeRoy Martin won the Republican primary.

Cook County Sheriff Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	LeRoy Martin	107,868	100
Total votes			107,868	100

General election

Cook County Sheriff election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael F. Sheahan (incumbent)	903,053	71.11
	Republican	LeRoy Martin	366,867	28.89
Total votes			1,269,920	100

Treasurer

1998 Cook County Treasurer election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
Turnout	47.91% [1] [3]
Candidate Maria Pappas Anthony Peraica Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 978,373 279,355 Percentage 77.79% 22.21%
Treasurer before election Edward J. Rosewell Democratic Elected Treasurer Maria Pappas Democratic

In the 1998 Cook County Treasurer election, incumbent sixth-term treasurer Edward J. Rosewell, a Democrat, did not seek reelection after having been indicted over a ghost jobs scheme (for which he would ultimately plead guilty). ^[6] Cook County Commissioner Maria Pappas was elected to succeed him.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Treasurer Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maria Pappas (incumbent)	332,547	70.43
	Democratic	Thomas Murphy	139,634	29.57
Total votes			472,181	100

Republican

Cook County Treasurer Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Anthony Peraica	106,386	100
Total votes			106,386	100

General election

Cook County Treasurer election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maria Pappas (incumbent)	978,373	77.79
	Republican	Anthony Peraica	279,355	22.21
Total votes			1,257,728	100

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners

1998 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
Turnout	50.10% [1] [3]
Candidate John Stroger Aurelia Pucinski Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 834,972 480,191 Percentage 63.49% 36.61%
President before election John Stroger Democratic Elected President John Stroger Democratic

In the 1998 President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election, incumbent first-term president John Stroger, a Democrat, was reelected.

Primaries

Democratic

Incumbent John H. Stroger, Jr. defeated Cook County commissioner Calvin R. Sutker.

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John H. Stroger, Jr. (incumbent)	363,670	72.98
	Democratic	Calvin R. Sutker	134,626	27.02
Total votes			498,296	100

Republican

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Aurelia Pucinski left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican party in December 1997 to run as its nominee for President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. ^[7]

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Aurelia Marie Pucinski	120,627	100
Total votes			120,627	100

General election

President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John H. Stroger, Jr. (incumbent)	834,972	63.49
	Republican	Aurelia Marie Pucinski	480,191	36.61
Total votes			1,315,163	100

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Main article: 1998 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

1998 Cook County Board of Commissioners election

←  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →
All 17 seats on the Cook County Board of Commissioners 9 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Democratic Republican Seats before 11 6 Seats won 12 5 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 791,445 332,957 Percentage 70.39% 29.61%

The 1998 Cook County Board of Commissioners election saw all seventeen seats of the Cook County Board of Commissioners up for election to four-year terms.

Cook County Board of Review

1998 Cook County Board of Review election

←  1994 (Board of Appeals) November 3, 1998 2002  →
3 of 3 seats on the Cook County Board of Review 2 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Party Democratic Republican Seats after 2 1

In the 1998 Cook County Board of Review election, all three seats were up for election. This was the first election for what would be a newly reconstituted body. In 1996, the Illinois Legislature successfully passed Public Act 89-671, which made it so that, in 1998, the Cook County Board of Appeals would be renamed Cook County Board of Review and be reconstituted as a three-member body. ^[8]

All elections held in 1998 were for four-year terms. ^[9]

1st district

See also: Cook County Board of Review 1st district

Republican Maureen Murphy defeated Democrat David McAfee. ^[9]

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Board of Review 1st district Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David B. McAfee	71,631	100
Total votes			71,631	100

Republican

Cook County Board of Review 1st district Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Maureen Murphy	29,154	31.95
	Republican	Wiliam A. Darr	18,023	19.75
	Republican	Thomas E. Walsh	14,856	16.28
	Republican	Katie O'Brien	13,307	14.58
	Republican	John A. Lartz	12,003	13.15
	Republican	Mary P. Redding	3,917	4.29
Total votes			91,260	100

General election

Cook County Board of Review 1st district election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Maureen Murphy (incumbent)	272,921	60.76
	Democratic	David B. McAfee	176,252	39.24
Total votes			449,173	100

2nd district

See also: Cook County Board of Review 2nd district

Joseph Berrios a ten incumbent on the predecessor organization, the Cook County Board of (Tax) Appeals, was elected, running unopposed in both the Democratic primary and general election.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Board of Review 2nd district Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Berrios	106,251	100
Total votes			106,251	100

Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary. ^[2]

General election

Cook County Board of Review 2nd district election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joseph Berrios	259,209	100
Total votes			259,209	100

3rd district

See also: Cook County Board of Review 3rd district

Robert Shaw, a Democrat, was elected.

Primaries

Democratic

Cook County Board of Review 3rd district Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Shaw	175,973	84.81
	Democratic	Arvin Boddie	31,514	15.19
Total votes			207,487	100

Republican

No candidates ran in the Republican primary. ^[2]

General election

Cook County Board of Review 3rd district election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Shaw	406,862	100
Total votes			406,862	100

Water Reclamation District Board

1998 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election

←  1996 November 3, 1998 2000  →
4 of 9 seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 5 seats needed for a majority

In the 1998 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, four of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election. Three were regularly scheduled elections, and one was a special election due to a vacancy. ^{[2] [1]}

Democrats won all four seats up for election.

Democratic incumbents Gloria Alitto Majewski and Patricia Young were reelected in the at-large election. ^{[1] [10] [11]}

At-large election

Three six-year term seats were up for an at-large election. Since three six-year seats were up for election, voters could vote for up to three candidates, and the top-three finishers would win.

Primaries

Democratic

Water Reclamation District Board at-large Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patricia Young (incumbent)	192,440	17.56
	Democratic	Gloria Alitto Majewski (incumbent)	170,076	15.52
	Democratic	Barbara McGowan	154,945	14.14
	Democratic	James Patrick Sheehan	109,485	9.99
	Democratic	Sally Johnson	96,537	8.81
	Democratic	Josephine Fragale	78,547	7.17
	Democratic	M. Frank Avila	52,463	4.79
	Democratic	Robert J. Pettis	43,704	3.99
	Democratic	Carl M. Anderson, Jr.	40,257	3.67
	Democratic	Jerry Paszek	36,379	3.32
	Democratic	Ronald Edward Hackett	26,662	2.43
	Democratic	M. Sam Esteban	17,895	1.63
Total votes			1,019,390	100

Republican

Water Reclamation District Board at-large Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jack O'Connor	91,579	36.07
	Republican	Rita L. Mullins	86,642	34.12
	Republican	James W. "Todd" Miles	75,678	29.81
Total votes			253,899	100

General election

Water Reclamation District Board at-large election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patricia Young (incumbent)	724,404	24.14
	Democratic	Barbara McGowan	666,612	22.21
	Democratic	Gloria Alitto Majewski (incumbent)	663,622	22.11
	Republican	Jack O'Connor	356,495	11.88
	Republican	Rita L. Mullins	308,632	10.28
	Republican	James W. "Todd" Miles	281,112	9.37
Total votes			3,000,877	100

Unexpired term

A special election was held to fill a seat left vacant.

Primaries

Democratic

Water Reclamation District Board unexpired term Democratic primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James C. "Jim" Harris	268,623	71.52
	Democratic	Janet Tuscher-Campion	106,965	28.48
Total votes			375,588	100

Republican

Water Reclamation District Board unexpired term Republican primary ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James C. "Jim" Harris	707,778	66.63
	Republican	Susan L. Kelsey	354,523	33.37
Total votes			1,062,301	100

General election

Water Reclamation District Board unexpired term election ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Susan L. Kelsey	100,201	100
Total votes			100,201	100

Judicial elections

Partisan elections were held for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County, due to vacancies. Other judgeships had retention elections. ^[1]

Partisan elections were also held for subcircuit courts judgeships due to vacancies. Other judgeships had retention elections. ^[1]

Ballot questions

One ballot question was included on ballots county-wide during the March primary election.

Managed Care Act advisory referendum

An advisory referendum was included on the March primary ballots on the Managed Care Act.

Managed Care Act advisory referendum ^{[2] [3]}

Candidate		Votes	%
Yes		491,917	91.99
No		42,814	8.01
Total votes		534,731	100
Voter turnout		19.65%

Other elections

Coinciding with the primaries, elections were held to elect both the Democratic and Republican committeemen for the suburban townships. ^[2]

See also

• 1998 Illinois elections

References

1. "OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS GENERAL ELECTION COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1998" (PDF). results.cookcountyclerkil.gov.
2. "OFFICIAL FINAL RESULTS PRIMARY ELECTION COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1998" (PDF). www.cookcountyclerkil.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
3. "Voter Turnout". www.elections.il.gov. Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
4. "Voter Registration and Turnout 1990 - 2019 | Cook County Clerk's Office". www.cookcountyclerk.com. Cook County Clerk. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
5. Kass, John (10 March 1997). "SOME FEEL SLIGHTED IN HYNES' RESIGNATION". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
6. O'Connor, Matt (26 November 1998). "ROSEWELL MAKES DEAL IN GHOST-JOBS PROBE". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
7. Becker, Robert (11 December 1997). "AURELIA PUCINSKI JOINS GOP". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
8. "History of The Board of Review". Cook County Board Of Review. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
9. "35 ILCS 200/5-5". ilga.gov. Government of Illinois. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
10. "Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago". mwrd.org. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
11. "Patricia Young: Candidate Profile". Daily Herald. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2020.