After the WTTW News Local election Debate on February 7, 2023, Paul Vallas talks to the media and answers their questions. Pictured: (Michael Izquierdo For WTTW Tv)
Documents uncovered by WTTW News cast doubt on the mayoral eligibility of Paul Vallas, one of the leading candidates in Chicago, because he has listed a home in the southern neighborhood of Palos Heights for his legal permanent residence since 2009.
After being asked directly by WTTW News about his residency, Vallas, who is a Chicago voter from a Connecticut home for less then a year, refused to respond.
His campaign spokesperson instead sent a statement explaining that while he is based in Chicago, Sharon is taking care of his ailing parents and Sharon’s mother, who is 93 years old, in Palos Heights.
According to the campaign, Vallas attends the Palos Heights residence “when his schedule allows” so that the couple’s parents can continue to get treatment in their own home.
North American Greco-Hellenic Chicago Mayoral Candidate Paul Vallas Is Running Again
However, documents filed the with Georgia State Elections Commission show that in September, when Vallas donated $250 to Democratic Alexi Giannoulias’ strong campaign for state secretary of state.
Vallas listed his home address in Palos Heights as his mailing address. It was an oversight, according to a representative for Vallas, who assured reporters that it would be fixed.
Documents submitted to state officials reveal that Vallas maintains a presence for his consultancy business at his Palos Heights residence. A representative for Vallas indicated that this took place over ten years ago, when Vallas was a resident of New Orleans.
After relocating to Connecticut from Highland Park in January 2022, Vallas registered to vote in 2022 and filed paperwork the with Illinois State Elections Commission to establish his new reelection campaign.
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Vallas For Mayor, in April 2022. According to a spokeswoman for his campaign, Vallas relocated to a second-floor apartment in a Bridgeport apartment because it was more accessible for his “job and family.”
Tressa Pankovits, a member of Vallas’s campaign team, rented him a Lincoln Park condominium from mid-2017 until January 2022 when he was campaigning for mayor of Illinois in 2019. WTTW News initially received a response from Pankovits, who promised to call back but has not yet done so.
According to Vallas’s campaign, Pankovits resided and studied in California while Vallas rented his Lincoln Park condominium.
“(Pankovits) returned to Chicagoland in January 2019 to work for the Vallas camp and was residing at a friend’s house,” said a representative for Vallas’ 2023 campaign.
Pankovits, who already works in Georgetown, D.C., claimed the flat Vallas rented to her as her principal residence for property tax benefits, according to documents filed with Chicago County officials. WTTW News reported that a representative for Vallas’ campaign indicated the candidate was unaware of the situation.
For nearly five years, WTTW News inquired whether it was acceptable for Vallas to rent a home leased by a female employee. The Vallas campaign did not respond.
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In Chicago’s Mayoral Race, He Is The Frontrunner
Even though he is running for mayor of Chicago, Vallas does not own any real estate there. Willie Wilson, a successful businessman, lives in a penthouse in the heart of Chicago and also owns a property in the southern neighborhood of Hazel Crest.
Ja’Mal Green, another mayoral contender, had initially cast doubt on Wilson’s Chicago residence but has now dropped the issue. Candidates for the office of mayor of Chicago must have lived in the city for a full year prior to the general election. WTTW News quoted former Inspector Gen.
Joseph Ferguson, who reviewed stay-in cases, as saying that a challenge to Valla’s candidature would have been unsuccessful. No one has challenged Vallas in the upcoming election on February 28th, thus he is guaranteed to keep his seat.
Where does he stay and where does he cast his ballot?” asked Ferguson. What’s his nightly routine like? Does he return to the same place to watch movies?
Simply put, that is the crux of the matter. If he stays in one place in Illinois for a significant amount of time, we can call him a resident.
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The Cook County Assessor’s Office began looking into whether or not Vallas’ Palos Heights property was qualified to earn a maximum of $5,507.61 in tax credits over the last four years. on Thursday in response to requests from WTTW News.
Formed in 2007, the trust is held jointly by Vallas and his wife Sharon, who is also the co-owner of the residence. As stated in the statement, the Cook County Valuations Bureau is also owned by the same trust.
Both homes claimed to be owner occupied, making them eligible for discounts. However, this appears to be in contravention of state legislation, which forbids individuals from claiming the principal residence tax exemption for more than one property.
A representative for the Cook County Assessor’s Office stated in a statement, “Within the upcoming 30 days, the proprietor of both the Palos Heights home must prove that he owns the property including if he intends to retain the house as his principal residence.” If the owner cannot provide proof of eligibility for homeowner exemptions, they will be charged for them.
When asked about the investigation files kept by the Harris County Assessor’s Office, a representative for Vallas refused to respond.
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Conclusion
Vallas has devoted a great deal of time and energy to helping reconstruct cities after natural disasters. After the 2010 Haitian earthquake which killed 230,000 people, he spearheaded humanitarian relief work and campaigned in education reform alongside two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn.
