WHAT makes a respected, powerful man like Thomas Hynes, who fought long and hard to become president of the Illinois Senate, suddenly decide to give it all up and end a legislative career to run for the office of Cook County assessor? His decision perplexed many people — especially downstaters who do not realize the importance of the office politically and governmentally.

That initial feeling is only natural. The title "assessor" produces one of two actions in most people — a blank stare from those who rent their housing and an irate scowl from those who own. That's because most people come into contact with the assessor's office only when their property is reevaluated each year for (Ouch!) tax purposes.

In most areas of the state, reevaluation is a relatively mechanical, if complex process which involves comparing the piece of property being assessed with other, similar real estate that has been sold recently. Once that comparison yields a theoretically accurate value for the property, the assessor — again in theory — sets the assessed value of the property at 33 1/3 of the actual, fair market value. The county then multiplies the "assessed value" of the property by the tax rate to determine how much tax the property owner must pay. The higher the value of the property, the higher the tax, at least in theory.

The power to decide the value of the property for tax purposes makes the assessor an important person in every county — especially for businesses with large physical assets. But in Cook county, with a huge chunk of the state's industry on the tax rolls, the assessor is a particularly important man.

Even the most scrupulously honest man will be the friend of a businessman whose tax bill could vary by hundreds of thousands — or millions — of dollars with the stroke of his pen. If nothing else, the businessman will want access to the assessor to plead his case. In past administrations, that understandable desire has translated, among other things, into campaign contributions. Although records were not made public, politicians talk about fortunes flowing into the campaign chests of incumbent assessors who had few, if any, real political expenses.

The money has enabled some assessors, the politicos say, in turn to contribute heavily to other candidates in their party, earning them friendships which later could be translated into support when needed.

Another thing the office brings is jobs — always a valuable commodity in an organization based largely on patronage. The ability to put a friend's loyal ally on the payroll frequently is the grease that keeps the wheels turning in the political "machine."

Hynes acknowledges the political advantages but does not dwell on them. "Politically, it's a large and important office," he said. "It's countywide and I'll be appealing to a countywide constituency. There are many important things about the office politically."

He shrugged aside suggestions that as assessor and a member of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee he would be in a position to seize some of the power held by the late Mayor Richard J. Daley. Some observers felt the essence of Daley's power was that he operated as the head of both the city government and the party apparatus.

"There are so many younger committeemen, I just can't see anyone dominating," Hynes said.

He cited other reasons for his decision to abandon an eight-year legislative career: His family and a desire to tackle the serious financial problems facing county government. Like others who have left since the implementation of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Hynes said he thinks annual sessions demand too much from lawmakers. He has four children between the ages of 6 and 12, he said, "and I've already missed too many of the occasions a father should be home for."

As assessor, he said, he hopes he can help taxpayers who have faced sharply rising tax bills recently. "Governmentally, the office is very significant," he said. "In the complexity of the issues involved, it is very challenging." Among other things, the office within the next year may have to cope with the abolition of the personal property tax, mandated by the new constitution.

Odds and Ends:

— Has anyone noticed in the uproar over the Democratic slate that Michael Bakalis is not a lawyer? There are those (outside the legal profession, of course) who feel a "layman" is just what the governor's office needs. Bakalis was a college professor before he entered politics.

— Phyllis Schlafly's decision not to run against Charles Percy means there will not be any hot races at the top of the ticket in either party March 21. This is extremely unusual in such a politically volatile state. There are likely to be some scraps a little further down on the Democratic side of the ballot though. University of Illinois trustee Nina T. Shepherd, Winnetka, announced December 5 that she would seek the nomination for treasurer against the slated candidate Jerome A. Cosentino, Palos Heights. In addition, Rep. Richard N. Luft, Pekin, may file for comptroller challenging the slatemakers' choice, Rolland W. Burris, Chicago. Luft, who was collecting petitions during the final week of filing, has downstate support. Shepherd is backed by women Democratic leaders. 

January 1978/ Illinois Issues/33