Cook County to screen Arlene Mulder replacement on Metra publicly

Following on a new tradition of interviewing Metra board candidates in public, Cook County officials will screen replacements for outgoing Director Arlene Mulder at an open session in July.

Traditionally, Metra directors have been chosen behind closed doors but Cook County commissioners opened up the process in 2013.

The new director, representing the Northwest suburbs, will be chosen by Commissioners Tim Schneider, Liz Gorman and Gregg Goslin.

Schneider told the Daily Herald in May he preferred candidates with experience in transportation or engineering and leadership skills.

"There's no question keeping the process as open and transparent as possible will give the public a greater belief we're selecting the best possible candidate we can and not just someone who's a friend of a friend," Schneider said earlier.

Interested applicants should submit a statement by midnight July 3 listing their experience and why they want to serve on Metra to cookcounty.board@cookcountyil.gov.

Candidates must live in Barrington, Palatine, Wheeling, Hanover, Schaumburg or Elk Grove townships.

The selection meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, in the Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Mulder, former Arlington Heights mayor, is stepping down after nine years on Metra.

Another Metra vacancy will be filled by former McHenry County Board member Marc Munaretto.

Munaretto, who runs a real estate brokerage firm specializing in commercial and industrial properties, previously chaired the county's finance and audit committee.

He'll replace outgoing Director Jack Schaffer and was approved by a majority of the county board on June 3.