Lake County clerk candidates differ on website's effectiveness
The candidates running for Lake County clerk disagree on the effectiveness of the office's website.
One called it cumbersome, while the other strongly defended the electronic communications tool.
Republican Carla Wyckoff and Democrat Janet Kilkelly met with the Daily Herald earlier this month to talk about issues facing the office.
Wyckoff and Kilkelly are running to replace longtime Clerk Willard R. Helander. Helander, a Libertyville Republican, isn't seeking re-election after 20 years in the post.
The clerk oversees elections, voter registration, marriage licenses and other tasks.
The candidates critiqued the clerk's website, countyclerk.lakecountyil.gov, when they were asked how to improve office communications with Lake County residents.
Kilkelly, 60, of Waukegan, called the website "a little cumbersome."
"There's lots of information on it," said Kilkelly, a Waukegan Park District commissioner and a former Waukegan Township trustee. "But if you were to go in and say, 'Who are the 2014 candidates,' I don't know. I spent a lot of time trying to find that list."
Kilkelly said she'd streamline the process for getting information on the site.
"It's almost too much information," she said. "It's just hard to navigate. I don't think it's clear enough."
Wyckoff, 66, of Lake Forest, said she likes the site.
"Actually, I think the Lake County clerk's Web page is pretty well done," said Wyckoff, an assistant state's attorney in Lake County who has worked with the clerk's office through the years as one of its lawyers. "There is a lot of information on there. People can get personalized information."
Wyckoff also praised the office's use of social media to disseminate information.
Still, Wyckoff said she'd like to partner with civic groups and schools to spread information about voting and other tasks and services.
"It's still important to have a personal effort to increase voter awareness and get information out there," Wyckoff said.