Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns
Workshop to Learn how to Appeal your Property Taxes Nov. 18
Click here to view Wendt’s District 1 Map for information on your community.
Letter from Commissioner Tammy Wendt
Dear Cook County Taxpayers,
It is an honor to serve the residents of Cook County as First District Commissioner of the Board of Review. I believe the Board of Review plays one of the most vital roles in county government by providing an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and ensure their property valuations are fair.
Today is an unprecedented time for Cook County – many residents and commercial property owners are looking to relocate outside of the county to lower their property taxes. I know the difficulties that unfair tax burdens can place on middle-class families and business owners. I also know the frustration that many feel when they open their tax bill and don’t understand how their property’s value is assessed, or how to appeal that valuation.
Educating property owners on how their property values are assessed, how property taxes fund key county services and programs, and how to successfully complete the appeal process is paramount to Cook County maintaining a strong middle-class presence and business environment. I look forward to joining my fellow Commissioners in providing this education and showcasing Cook County as the world-class residential and business community that it is.
I am a lifelong resident of Cook County, and I have been a practicing attorney for more than 20 years with both property tax appeal and real estate experience. I grew up on the southwest side as the daughter of a police officer in a middle-class community. In high school I started waitressing and eventually worked my way through Moraine Valley Community College and Trinity Christian College before earning my law degree from John Marshall Law School.
After college, I served as a social worker for Catholic Charities in the family placement unit, helping parents reunite with their children after they had lost custody. I began my legal career as a prosecutor in the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney in 2000. During my four years as an Assistant State’s Attorney, I served in multiple divisions within the office. In 2004, I opened my own law firm, practicing in the areas of real estate closings, property tax appeals, criminal defense, expungements and estate planning. After 12 years in my own firm, I joined forces with a private law firm from 2016 to 2019. In November of 2019 I began to practice on my own again prior to being elected as Commissioner for the Board of Review in 2020.
I have served as past president of the Southwest Bar Association, as well as a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Southwest Bar Association, the South Suburban Bar Association, the West Suburban Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, and the Women’s Criminal Defense Bar Association. I am also a licensed real estate broker.
I know and love the many amenities that Cook County has to offer, from its location and quality-of-life to its diverse economy and communities. That is why I continue to live and raise my family in Cook County today.
My priority throughout my term as Commissioner will be to help as many property owners as I can. I look forward to representing you and working with you.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Tammy Wendt
- Republican Party in Illinois needs new grassroots, candidate says - December 21, 2025
- Cook County Pastors from the south and west sides and suburbs urge property tax reform - December 16, 2025
- Leving Team Won for Grandma, Giving Child a Stable Home with His Teen Dad - December 5, 2025
