Hurlbut wants to be Kane County circuit court clerk

Already partners in a jointly-owned legal firm in Elgin, Kane County Board member Cathy Hurlbut may see herself paired with her husband, John, on the other side of the legal bench in the near future.

Cathy Hurlbut announced her candidacy for Kane County circuit court clerk late Thursday night. She confirmed long-standing rumors of her interest in the position with a written statement.

“I have seriously considered running for Kane County circuit court clerk for the past several years,” Hurlbut said. “It has been my privilege in the past to work with my colleagues in government and the community to bring about positive communication and change. I have a unique perspective on the office of the circuit clerk and look forward to bringing that same communication and change in my role with the judiciary and county.”

Hurlbut first was elected to the county board for the District 19 seat in Elgin in 1994. She's successfully kept the seat in all four of her re-election bids.

In recent years, she's been a vocal critic of Circuit Court Clerk Deb Seyller's administration of the office. Seyller and the county just settled a lawsuit regarding the amount of money and employees Seyller has repeatedly said are necessary to run the office. Hurlbut frequently challenged Seyller in the run-up to the lawsuit.

“You had a budget,” Hurlbut told Seyller in August 2010. “You decided it wasn't enough. You just thumbed your nose at me, and everyone else, and you just went ahead and did what you wanted anyway.”

Seyller is not seeking re-election.

If successful in her run for circuit court clerk, she could find herself and her staff working closely with her husband. John Hurlbut recently announced his desire to be appointed as a new circuit judge for the Second Sub-Circuit of the 16th Judicial Court. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas is in charge of making that appointment.