IL Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg) won't run for re-election, may resign.

A Fox Chicago News investigation is uncovering more questions at the Cook County Board of Review. That is the agency that handles thousands of property tax appeals. Two months ago, a Fox News report revealed that the State’s Attorney is looking at whether Schaumburg Rep. Paul Froehlich traded tax appeals for campaign donations.

Recently, I was interviewed by the Ray Hanania Radio Show about the Paul Froehlich scandals, and we wrote about it on the SFC website.

Froehlich recently decided not to run for re-election in 2010. The investigation into wrongdoing on property tax assesment appeals and unlawful use of a District 214 bus may be a major contributing factor to why he has made that decision. Perhaps he is being forced out by Democratic leadership?

I anticipate that Rep. Froehlich will be replaced by another Democratic legislator within the next few months. The replacement will be appointed by the Schaumburg Township Democratic Committeeman Rocco Terranova. I hope the Democratic Party will have an open nomination process with at least a straw poll of residents in the 56th District to determine Paul Froehlich’s replacement. The aformentioned scenario would be unlikely as Democratic leadership will likely be looking to promote the candidate that they think will be strongest in holding onto the seat in the 2010 election.

The 2010 campaign season for a permanent replacement of State Rep. Paul Froehlich is already heating up. A number of local Republicans have expressed interest in running against Froehlich, with Schaumburg Township Assessor and Roselle Police Officer John Lawson recently announcing his intention to run for Rep. Froehlich’s seat.

Below is a partial transcript of the Fox News Investigative Reporter Dane Placko’s segment, linked is the video.

At the center of the investigation, former Berrios staffer Victor Santana, who also does political work for Berrios and is so close to the commissioner he calls him “dad.”

Santana also does political work for this man, democratic state representative Paul Froehlich of Schaumburg.

Placko: Were you trading tax appeals for political favors?

In may, a Fox Chicago news investigation revealed how Froehlich has been getting tax appeals approved for hundreds of his constituents at the astonishing success rate of 94%.

Froehlich also helped two hotels in his district win tax reductions of more than 400,000 dollars…then noted on the appeal forms that the hotels had agreed to give him thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and free rooms for political workers.

Placko: “But look, here’s the savings in your handwriting and here’s a note asking for political work in return. That seems like a quid pro quo to me.”

Froehlich: “Dane, I’ve never had the authority to lower anybody’s assessments never. Now if I would have I’d understand your point.”

But was Froehlich getting help on the inside? Judy McCurdy, who ran Froehlich’s office until she was fired last year, says she was instructed by Froehlich not to follow the standard procedure of mailing the tax appeals to the board.

“The forms were mailed to an individual by the name of Victor Santana, who was the connection for Paul Froehlich.” Said Judy McCurdy.

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