From left: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidate Patricia Theresa Flynn, judicial candidate Tom Nowinski, judicial candidate Diana Lopez, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, judicial candidate Rena Van Tine, judicial candidate Tracie Porter and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speak at a Cook County Democratic Party news conference and voting event in Kenwood on Tuesday. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

Fritz Kaegi declared victory Tuesday night in his bid for a second term as Cook County Assessor, calling his modest but decisive win against challenger Kari Steele a sign that voters want him to stay on his mission to recalibrate the county’s property tax burden from homeowners onto downtown businesses.

Meanwhile, Cook County Board of Review Comm. Tammy Wendt (D-1) and Comm. Michael Cabonargi (D-2) both appeared on paths to defeat, heralding a shake-up on the appeals board charged with checking Kaegi’s math.