Lake County Clerk: Helander

We endorse Lake County Clerk Willard Helander for a return to the office she has held since 1994.

Democratic opponent Laura Tomsky offers a strong professional background in data management and work on national election reform, but Helander's accomplishments in office earn her our vote for another term.

Under her direction, the office has made important gains in voter empowerment and technology throughout its operation. It was the first in Illinois to post election results live on the Web in 1996. It reaches out to voters through cable TV programs and social networking. Vital records request forms are translated into Spanish. Election printing costs were brought in-house to save money.

Those steps and others represent proactive thinking and good office management, and have come at a time of growing election law mandates, declining staffing and a shrinking budget.