Kendall County Voters Nominate Auditor, Recorder; Cut Their Would-Be Offices
YORKVILLE, Ill. (CBS) -- Voters in Kendall County nominated a new auditor and a new recorder Tuesday, while at the same time voting to eliminate their positions.
As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, the offices of auditor and recorder were established by state law because of the population growth in Kendall County. No one has ever held the offices, and there is no physical office space set aside for either.
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Two Republicans ran for the officers unopposed – Jerry Bannister for auditor, and Alvin P. "Phil" Smith for recorder. Thus, both were nominated, but they won't be running in the general election and will never actually serve in the offices.
The reason is that on the same ballot, voters were asked if they wanted to eliminate the offices. Voters said yes resoundingly.
With 92 percent of precincts reporting late Tuesday, about 73 percent of voters said yes, the recorder office should be eliminated. In the referendum on auditor, about 66 percent said the office should be eliminated.
The reasoning behind the referenda was the cost to the county – about $625,000.
The county clerk and treasurer will perform the duties the auditor and recorder would have picked up.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
