Gov. candidate Corbett faces questions over property tax referendum work: ‘No Republican should sign Corbett’s petition’

Independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is facing questions over his work on local property tax referendums, with opponents arguing his political consulting firm has supported campaigns that increased property taxes for Illinois homeowners.

Corbett, a political consultant and head of Palatine-based Cor Strategies, entered the governor’s race days after leaving the Republican Party to become an independent. 

His campaign reportedly has about $1 million in pledged funding and is working with an outside firm to gather signatures, aiming to collect roughly 50,000 signatures, above the 25,000 required to secure ballot access during the May 18-26 filing window.

Critics have argued Corbett’s entry into the race could draw votes from Republican candidate Darren Bailey in the gubernatorial election against Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives has been among Corbett’s critics, pointing to his firm’s role in supporting a 2024 $151.5 million referendum in Wheaton’s Community Unit School District 200.

“No Republican should sign Corbett's petition. He worked with CUSD200 to pass the $151 million referendum for performing arts centers in middle schools. Voters bought their BS numbers sent out in targeted ads from Corbett and Sullivan,” Ives, a Wheaton resident who hosts The Real Story with Jeanne Ives on AM 560 and serves as Chief Executive Officer Breakthrough Ideas, said in a post on X. 

The CUSD 200 referendum, supported by Corbett’s firm Cor Strategies and former state representative Ed Sullivan, a Republican, sparked debate over transparency and potential tax impacts but was ultimately approved by voters.  

District finances and administrative costs were also part of the public discussion during the campaign, including scrutiny over what critics described as generous retirement benefit packages for recent retirees that included substantial pension-related payouts. 

Critics also objected to the district’s use of outside consultants, including Cor Strategies, to support messaging in favor of the referendum.

Additional criticism came from Brian Costin, deputy state director of Americans for Prosperity, who called Corbett a “literal professional tax hiker” in a post on X.

Costin said Cor Strategies depends financially on persuading school districts and other local governments to spend taxpayer funds on what he described as “quasi-legal public information campaigns” intended to encourage voters to approve tax increases.

“He’s a big reason of why property taxes are so high in Illinois,” Costin wrote. 

Illinois has the highest property tax rates in the country, with homeowners paying an average effective rate of 1.83%, or about $4,584 annually on a median-priced home, according to Illinois Policy.

Rising pension costs for public employees, including teachers and other school employees, have reportedly contributed to property tax increases in many districts.

Costin also criticized Corbett’s political alignment in the same remarks, writing that “based on Corbett’s tax hiking values he should have run for office in the Democratic Primary. He’d fit in so much better there.”

“The Republican Party is better off with him gone,” Costin wrote. “Now everyone else will understand why we shouldn’t have a bunch of tax hikers in the party trying to destroy it from within.” 

Costin also compared Corbett’s campaign to that of former Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, referencing McCann’s 2018 Conservative Party gubernatorial campaign and later federal conviction on charges including misuse of campaign funds, money laundering and tax evasion.

“Likely recruited by allies of Gov. Pritzker to harm Republican opposition. McCann ended up sentenced in federal court to 3 1⁄2 years in prison,” he wrote.  

McCann was sentenced in 2024 after admitting to converting more than $600,000 in campaign funds for personal use, including the purchase of vehicles, a travel trailer and motor home, and payments toward mortgages and personal debts.

During the 2018 race, McCann’s campaign received about $3 million from organized labor groups aligned with Democratic interests.

“What a great guy! Just like Corbett,” Costin said.

Costin also pointed to Cor Strategies’ current role as a paid consultant to Township High School District 214 as the district evaluates a potential $850 million property tax referendum.

Corbett founded Cor Strategies in 2009. Over the past 17 years, the firm has worked on policy and tax-related initiatives, including campaigns supported by labor groups and local governments, according to InfluenceWatch.

In a Facebook post announcing his campaign, Corbett said the campaign is intended to represent “everyday Illinoisans.”

“For too long, everyday people have been trapped in a political system that no longer works for them. The special interests get what they want while working families pay the price,” he wrote.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Colin Corbett. (Facebook / Collin Corbett)