Endorsement: Vanderventer over Bednar for Lake County recorder of deeds

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The Lake County recorder of deeds is the main record keeper for the county, responsible for recording, archiving and retrieving any document submitted for recording. The office handles a vast range of documents, some dating back to 1844, that include deeds and mortgages, ordinances and annexations, liens and releases and military discharge papers. Though the office is not as high profile as others in county government, it provides a critical function in a county as large as Lake. This election pits challenger Bob Bednar, a bus driver from Mundelein who has a background in accounting and certified financial planning, against 16-year incumbent Mary Ellen Vanderventer of Waukegan. Vanderventer is running on her experience and efforts to balance the needs of professional clients and customers while reducing expenses during a tight economy. She also points to efforts to keep pace with technological advances while protecting privacy rights of regular citizens. Bednar has campaigned on the need for a new vision and for a referendum for voters to decide if the office should be combined with the county clerk. But he presents no studies or evidence to indicate the consolidation would be effective in a county as large as Lake and; regardless, it really is an issue that should be addressed in its own context. Vanderventer is endorsed.