Former partners now compete for Lake County coroner post

The coroner may be Lake County's second-most powerful law enforcement officer, but the position generally takes a lower profile than other races at election time.

This season is the exception, as former partners in an emergency medical group compete for a job that pays $108,160.

Democratic incumbent Richard Keller, 54, of Waukegan, stresses his record of education and service to the community through death prevention and intervention programs. He also writes the "Live from the Coroner's Office" blog.

Republican challenger Michael Oster, 57, an emergency room physician from Gurnee, has been critical of Keller on a variety of issues, from the manner in which information is released to the public to the way some death investigations have been handled.

Oster, who is prominently backed by the Lake County Republican Central Committee, has upped the exposure of the race.

State records show Oster, who is making his first run for elected office, with about $3,600 cash on hand as of Oct. 5. The report, which covers the period from July 1, showed receipts of nearly $34,000, including a loan to himself of more than $29,000.

Keller had about $8,000 cash on hand with receipts of $975 for the reporting period.

Aside from the traditional mailings and yard signs, Oster's campaign features local television and radio spots. In one, former longtime Coroner Barbara Richardson says Keller has "lost the compassion to deal with grieving families."

Oster says he would restore "team work, leadership and compassion" to the office. While Oster has been in the faces of voters, Keller has relied on name recognition, community involvement and his record in office.

Chief among Oster's criticisms are Keller's defense testimony in a child molestation case. He says the issue is that Keller agreed to review the case for the public defender. Keller later was subpoenaed to testify.

"His entire purpose for testifying is to debunk the prosecutor's case," said Oster. He said Keller was requested to do a review not forced to testify.

"I am an expert in that field and if subpoenaed again, I'd testify," Keller said. "It's a legal mandate for you to appear."

Oster also claims Keller at times doesn't investigate thoroughly.

"He doesn't listen when people give him advice about certain deaths," Oster said.

He cited a case earlier this month in which the bodies of a father and son were found in a Round Lake home. Keller did not check for carbon monoxide poisoning because a cat in the home lived, according to Oster.

"It demonstrates his lack of knowledge of the cases and is getting information that is incomplete," Keller said of that case and other Oster claims. "We had tested both individuals for carbon monoxide."

Oster also says Keller's premature release of details in some cases has jeopardized investigations and made enemies of law enforcement.

"He does this on a regular basis," Oster said. Keller say he releases information, such as if alcohol was involved in an accident, to prevent other deaths.

"I'm certainly not aware of any cases where an investigation has been jeopardized by the information I've given out," Keller said.

Oster also said he would, as much as possible, personally notify relatives of a death, a practice Richardson was known for.

Keller says deputy coroners make the initial notifications because they "have all the answers" relatives may need but the office works with them for weeks afterward.

As for the job itself, Oster indicated in a Daily Herald candidate questionnaire that he would resign his position with Infinity Health Care in Milwaukee if elected. Earlier this week, he said would work part-time at Infinity as continuing education in the field.

Keller said he gets calls at all hours and being a part-time coroner wouldn't work.

"You can't be tied up with another job," he said.