Commissioner Samantha Steele

Samantha Steele serves as Commissioner for District 2 of the Cook County Board of Review. She is the first Commissioner in the Board’s history to hold the Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS) designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), and one of only four professionals in Illinois to have earned this distinction. She is also a certified Level III Assessor/Appraiser, with over 500 hours of valuation education. This remarkable combination of qualifications reflects her unparalleled expertise and underscores just a fraction of the exceptional value she brings to her role as commissioner.

With over two decades of experience in property valuation, Commissioner Steele has collaborated with assessment officials nationwide to develop and implement best practices in property assessments and appeal analysis.

One of Steele’s key initiatives is the launch of “Analyst Days,” a program where Board of Review analysts meet taxpayers in their own neighborhoods and provide specific guidance on the appeal process. In 2024 alone, she and her staff held 23 of these events, providing personalized support and assisting with appeals. Steele also expanded outreach efforts by hosting 15 appeal workshops in District 2, helping taxpayers file more than 93,000 appeals districtwide.

From 2007 to 2011, Steele served as County Assessor in Indiana, where she successfully navigated the region through the housing crisis and economic collapse of 2008. During this period, she implemented innovative regression models to reduce significant appeal backlogs, developed new strategies for valuing contaminated properties, and led the valuation of industrial and commercial properties during Indiana’s general reassessment. She also taught numerous assessment-related courses and served on the Lake County Property Tax Board of Appeals.

In addition to her public service, Steele is the managing member of The Leanor Group, a woman-owned consulting firm specializing in local government assessments. She has been an active member of the IAAO since 2007, contributing to its professional development committee and speaking at national conferences. Steele also served as the Director of Commercial Valuations at the Cook County Assessor’s Office and was part of the Assessor’s 2019 transition team.

In 2023, Steele was honored with the Distinguished Assessment Jurisdiction Award from the IAAO for her innovative use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of processing appeals.

True to her campaign promise, Steele made it a priority from day one to support the Board’s workforce. Within her first year in office, she encouraged staff to begin the unionization process, a historic step for the agency. The effort is now well underway, with employees currently engaged in contract negotiations, moving toward securing stronger protections and a more transparent workplace. 

Steele’s commitment to workforce development extends beyond advocacy, prioritizing staff education and professional growth. This focus has resulted in 20 team members earning their Certified Illinois Assessing Officer (CIAO) designation, with 13 certifications achieved in 2024 alone. In 2025, at least three more staff members are slated to earn their designations. This investment in education not only benefits the team but also enhances service to taxpayers.

Steele attended Purdue University and the Kent Institute of Art & Design, and she received her Real Estate and Fee Appraiser certifications from the Real Estate Certification Program (RECP). A native of Bridgeport, she now resides in Evanston with her family.