Zoning chief to run for auditor

After a decade of presiding over crucial hearings guiding McHenry County's growth and development, Richard Kelly Jr. now wants to take a crack at overseeing the county's finances.

Kelly, chairman of the county's zoning board of appeals since 1997, announced Friday he is seeking the Republican Party nomination for the county auditor's post, setting up a February primary matchup with sitting Auditor Pam Palmer.

A 42-year-old Crystal Lake attorney, Kelly said he is running in part because he does not want to see Palmer claim the office unopposed.

"I think the public should be able to decide based on who has the best qualifications, and if no one else runs they won't see those qualifications," he said.

The auditor's responsibilities include tracking the county's financial operations, keeping an inventory on county property and maintaining county contracts.

Though typically a low-key position, the office has been in the spotlight recently as a result of questions surrounding spending by McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi.

In September, the Daily Herald revealed that since December 2004, Bianchi's office received more than $17,000 in taxpayer-funded reimbursements for parade candy, soda, ice cream, cookies, coffee, meals and other items.

Palmer called the expenses inappropriate and plans to introduce stricter policies on business and travel expenses for county employees.

Kelly, however, said Palmer should have addressed the issues earlier and without public fanfare.

"If there's a red flag, it should be handled with the department head when it happens, not in the newspapers and not politically," Kelly said.

Palmer declined to comment on Kelly's remarks but did question whether a lawyer has the accounting, auditing and business background needed to operate her office.

"The person who has this job needs to have a deep background in those areas in order to run it effectively," she said. "I think it would be extremely hard (for an attorney) to be able to run this office and keep it at the level we've brought it to."

Kelly, however, said he spent four years working in finance as a market and debt analyst before obtaining his law degree from DePaul University. As an attorney, he said, he routinely deals with contracts and represents corporate interests.

Palmer, who was appointed to the office last year after spending nine years as chief deputy auditor, filed petitions Monday for her placement on next year's ballot. So far no Democrat has filed nominating petitions for the post.