Lyons Township still has no replacement for Pat Hynes, Cook County’s assessor-elect
Hynes won election as Cook County assessor on Nov. 3, but he still cannot fully turn to his new job as the Township of Lyons board has not named his replacement as township assessor.
Hynes had agreed to stay in his township role until the board named a successor. As of the board’s Nov. 10 meeting, it had not.
The delay surprised some observers because Hynes, as the Democratic candidate for county assessor, was widely expected to win after the primary last spring.
“You are not wrong,” Hynes said when a reporter raised that point.
Hynes said the township’s failure to name a new assessor keeps him from getting to the county building to prepare for his new job, which delays his transition.
“I’m gobsmacked,” he said. “I have a big job ahead of me. This is just added stress.”
Asked why no replacement has been named, he said, “You’re going to have to ask the trustees.”
Hynes said he warned trustees at the board’s September meeting: “you need to get your act together and put this on the agenda. November will be here before you know it.”
At the Nov. 10 meeting, Trustee David Imielski moved to advertise the assessor’s job, with applications due Nov. 23. The board approved the motion unanimously. Trustees hope to hire a new assessor as soon as possible.
Township Supervisor Christopher Getty said the board appreciates Hynes’ work and did not intend to delay his departure.
“The assessor wants a timely transition and the board had, you know, it’s one of those things where the board has chosen to take additional time to find his replacement. He’s upset by it. That’s between him and the board,” Getty said.
Asked why the board was slow to act, Trustee Mark Anderson said, “That’s a great question. It really is. (It was) sneaking up on us so fast.”
Anderson said that with a deadline in place, he hopes the board will have many qualified candidates to choose from.
The board could name Hynes’ successor at its next meeting, Dec. 8.