Staff

Maurice Scholten joined the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois in 2015 and is currently President of the Federation. Before joining TFI, Mr. Scholten was Senior Legal Counsel for the Senate President’s Office for five years where he worked on taxes, pensions, workers’ compensation, and unemployment insurance.

Mr. Scholten received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Carol Portman was the President of the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois from January 2013 through December 2023.  Prior to joining TFI in the fall of 2012, she was Assistant General Counsel – Tax with Sears Holdings Corporation for 12 years, where she was responsible for providing legal support on all state and local tax matters nationwide.  Ms. Portman held similar in-house corporate tax counsel positions with Ameritech (now AT&T) and Waste Management Corporation.  Her legal career began in the Chicago office of McDermott, Will & Emery.

She is a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois and received her law degree in 1987 from the University of Michigan Law School.

Kellie Cookson has worked as Executive Secretary for the Taxpayers’ Federation since December 1994. She was assigned Office Manager in October of 2007. Her primary duties are website maintenance, membership billing, publications and general office duties. Prior to that, she was an MLS secretary / receptionist at the Springfield Association of Realtors.

She and husband, Rodger, their two sons and daughter reside in Springfield.

Tracy Scaduto joined the Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois in May 2013. She is a retired State of Illinois employee and resides in Springfield with her husband and son.