Endorsement: Cook County recorder

The Democratic primary race for Cook County recorder of deeds is a divisive one, with incumbent Eugene "Gene" Moore defending his office against allegations of poor performance from challenger Ed Smith, a Chicago alderman. Smith has a long list of problems he sees in the office: patronage, poor morale and work ethic, slow adaptation of technology, and failure to develop ways to bring in revenue. Moore defends his record as stellar and charges Smith is simply trying to double dip by getting a new salary along with an aldermanic pension. Moore claims Smith does not have a proven track record.

And yet, Smith's criticisms have some merit -- as do his ideas, which include more technology and finding ways to offer data for sale to real estate agents and other businesses. He promises to institute a work ethic that will make employees feel vested in their work. Perhaps the best part of Smith's vision is the idea that ultimately the office could be absorbed into another county agency. While Smith only says he will look at the idea, Moore says the idea is not realistic because the recorder does not have the power to make that happen. That seems dismissive of both a potentially money-saving idea and of taxpayers who pay the bills. Given his vision and energy, the Daily Herald endorses Ed Smith for recorder of deeds.