In every county in Illinois, the electoral process is carried out by the County Clerk’s office, with one exception – DuPage. We are the only county with an independent county-wide electoral process. I’ve been critical of this structure while witnessing years of conflicts of interest, patronage appointments, and massive over-spending.
A conspicuous and strangely overlooked chunk of this over-spending has been the bloated salaries at the top. This month, the County Board will be voting on the salaries of elected officials, so I’ve compiled the clerk salaries of the top ten most-populated counties in Illinois aside from DuPage.
The salaries range from $81,500 to $121,700. The average salary is $99,700. If you ask any of these county clerks what their number one responsibility is, he or she would say: Administration of the electoral process.
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Our county clerk has nothing to do with elections, yet he receives a base salary of $143,000. That’s 43 percent more than the average these other clerks make. He receives by far the most pay with the least amount of responsibility.
Adding to the outrage, the DuPage County Clerk also receives $3,500 annually for serving as secretary on the DuPage Liquor Commission and $10,000 annually for serving in the ceremonial position of secretary for the DuPage Forest Preserve. All pension-eligible, of course. So when our county clerk steps down, he'll receive 80 percent of $143,000 plus these other sweeteners guaranteed for the rest of his life.
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Even our Election Commission executive director receives far more than any elected county clerk outside DuPage with a salary of $133,000.
The Lake County County Clerk told the Daily Herald last year, "I've always joked that it takes two highly-compensated men in DuPage to do what I do.”
Our county clerk was quoted in the media, “I'm glad I don't have to worry about elections.” Indeed.
If our county clerk doesn't want the headaches and work load the other 101 county clerks in Illinois, then he shouldn't be paid so well. He shouldn't be allowed to have it both ways.
On May 27th, the DuPage County Board will be voting on the salaries of elected officials. That's why I told the Board this week in public comment that if there is no willingness for the office of DuPage County Clerk to conduct the electoral process, then the salary should be cut in half. I added: If you disagree, you must justify to DuPage taxpayers why they should pay more for the same services other counties receive for a lot less.
Half the job, half the salary.
