Afrigather For the primary time in practically three a long time, Mary Ellen Vanderventer was lacking — however not AWOL — when new and reelected Lake County officers had been sworn into workplace final week. Her final day on the job as county recorder of deeds was Nov. 30.
Retirement or an election loss finally comes for many elected officers. For Vanderventer, it was no totally different as she left on her personal accord.
The biennial reorganization of county authorities noticed Democrats Sandy Hart of Lake Bluff reelected County Board chair and Angelo Kyle of Waukegan reelected head of the Forest Preserves. A brand new wave of county representatives had been sworn into workplace following the Nov. 8 elections by new County Clerk Anthony Vega of Grayslake, additionally a Democrat.
Again in 1996, when Waukegan resident Vanderventer first was elected county recorder, she was a pioneer. She was the primary lady to ever function recorder, and the primary Democrat because the Nice Melancholy to occupy the workplace.
When she completed her workday on Nov. 30, Vanderventer additionally grew to become the final recorder in Lake County historical past. County voters two years in the past determined overwhelmingly to eradicate the recorder’s workplace by Dec. 1, 2022 and merge the workplace’s duties and obligations — primarily safekeeping the deeds and property-related paperwork for each piece of land within the county — into the County Clerk’s Workplace.
The vote wasn’t even shut, as voters noticed a option to streamline county authorities. The referendum eliminating the workplace and making it a division of the County Clerk’s Workplace was authorised 206,781 – 96, 067 votes, or 68.28%, to 31.7%.
On the similar time voters had been abolishing the recorder’s workplace, Vanderventer was getting reelected simply to a job that might not exist. “It has been the best honor to serve the individuals of Lake County,” Vanderventer stated in an announcement. “I will probably be without end grateful.” She stated she “cherished and cherished” her governmental profession.
“Mel,” as she was recognized to shut associates, had toyed with the concept of conserving her streak going and operating for county clerk within the 2022 election cycle. Ultimately, she determined in October 2021 to retire and spend time along with her household, together with her father, former Waukegan Mayor Invoice Durkin, who now could be a nonagenarian.
As a substitute, she backed Vega’s run for the clerk’s workplace, which he captured within the Nov. 8 election by defeating one-term incumbent Robin O’Connor of Libertyville, a Democrat-turned-Republican. He received garnering 124,284 votes, or 55.1%, to O’Connor’s complete of 101,242 votes, or 44.89%.
Over time, Vanderventer’s re-election campaigns emphasised she was, “Doing Good Deeds for You!” Throughout these years, the workplace ran easily and effectively.
County taxpayers didn’t should pay out cash to staff unfairly dismissed from their jobs, just like the latest $2.6 million award to a few employees within the Circuit Court docket Clerk’s Workplace. A federal courtroom jury in Chicago dominated Dec. 2 the trio was let go following the 2016 election for political causes.
Maybe that was as a result of Vanderventer discovered political acumen starting in 1986 as elections administrator within the Lake County Clerk’s Workplace. With then Clerk Linda Hess, the pair ran 26 nationwide, state and native elections.
“She was a mentor, trainer and nonetheless at this time, a pricey pal,” Vanderventer stated of Hess. “After 10 years in a job that I cherished, a possibility offered itself to run for public workplace.”
That may occur to be the recorder’s workplace. It had been occupied by Republican Frank Nustra of Highwood, a Lake County Constructing fixture from 1959 to 1996, who died in 2005 at age 95.
Within the open-seat election in 1996, Vanderventer defeated Robert Neal of Wadsworth, a former County Board member and chair of the county’s Republican Social gathering. She obtained 96,621 votes, or 51,49%, to Neal’s 92,139 votes, or 48.81%.
“Being elected for seven phrases and 26 years was a dream come true,” Vanderventer stated. “I need to sincerely thank the voters of Lake County for his or her confidence in my capacity to be on the helm all these years.”
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She famous her workers labored tirelessly through the years to modernize the workplace as expertise improved its workings. But, the workplace stored the old school traditions alive.
“I’ll miss the every day interplay with the general public and our loyal clients,” Vanderventer added. She praised her chief deputies through the years and workers. “It has been a privilege to work alongside these devoted staff.”
Whereas operating for elected workplace and all that entails each 4 years, she stated her household sacrificed quite a bit through the years. “My husband (Don) is retired, and it merely got here right down to this: As corny as it might sound, I simply need extra time with the individuals I really like.”
Their achieve is the lack of a devoted public servant.
Charles Selle is a former Information-Solar reporter, political editor and editor.
Twitter: @sellenews
