Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is taking the county’s assessor to task for hiring his family members. Newly-sworn in Joe Berrios put his son and sister on the assessor payroll this week. Berrios is also the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.

Preckwinkle said the hirings give the appearance of impropriety.

“I think it’s critically important that we bring talented, competent people into government,” Preckwinkle said. “And I’m not - in the 19 years that I’ve been alderman, I never hired any family members and I think it’s inappropriate.”

Preckwinkle says she does not regret supporting Berrios’ campaign for assessor. She also announced 22 county employees under former Board President Todd Stroger have been let go.