With West’s death, county chairman must appoint Republican
The death of Kane County Coroner Chuck West triggered a 30-day clock to find his replacement. It’s a process potentially wrought with politics, but County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said Thursday she’s not going to use her position to bolster her party on the November ballot.
West was elected as a Republican. The law says his replacement must also be a Republican. The Republican on the November ballot is Rob Russell. Appointing him to the position now would give him a platform of experience to campaign on between now and the election.
“It’s just not appropriate to do that,” McConnaughay said. “It has always been my policy that when I appoint a vacancy in an office that is currently on the ballot, and there is more than one candidate, it’s inappropriate to give a leg up for one candidate over another. So let’s put to rest the rumor mill already. I will not be appointing a candidate that’s on the ballot.”
McConnaughay did recently appoint a candidate who is on the November ballot to a different vacancy. Pat Dal Santo is the Republican nominee for Kane County Regional School Superintendent. McConnaughay appointed her to that role several weeks ago after the retirement of Republican Doug Johnson. McConnaughay said that appointment came only because Democrats failed to slate a candidate for the office. Dal Santo is running unopposed.
“It didn’t make a lot of sense to not give her the ability to get in there and take over the organization,” McConnaughay said. “That’s better for the organization. But the process of choice for voters on the ballot has to be protected even when there’s a vacancy. If she’d had an opponent, she would not have gotten appointed. I would have appointed an interim.”
And that’s what will happen in the case of the coroner’s office. In fact, there will be sort of an interim interim coroner first. Chief Deputy Loren Carrera will serve as acting coroner for the next 30 days until McConnaughay names her appointee.
Carrera brought forward what she said was evidence West allowed his subordinates — one of them his son — to take home a television from a death investigation scene. Carrera later filed a lawsuit claiming West retaliated against her, including urinating on her work chair and stripping her of much of her authority. That lawsuit was still pending at the time of West’s death.
McConnaughay said she’s unclear what impact West’s death has on that lawsuit. As far as she knows, the case is still pending with the county potentially on the hook for legal costs, back pay and any monetary damages.
Nils von Keudell, Carrera’s attorney in the civil suit, could not immediately be reached for comment late Thursday. The case is next due in court July 17.
McConnaughay said anyone interested in being appointed as interim coroner until the November election should send a resume to her office. McConnaughay plans to name the appointee in time for the county board to confirm the candidate at the August county board meeting.
“Outside of being a registered voter and 21, there are no specific requirements for that position,” McConnaughay said. “It really is open to anybody who has an interest in filling the vacancy. I’ll be looking for someone who has relevant experience.”
Ÿ Daily Herald Legal Affairs Writer Harry Hitzeman contributed to this story.
Coroner: Deputy will take position for next 30 days