Kane County Board will ask West to resign

Kane County Board members will take the formal, if not enforceable, step of passing a resolution asking Coroner Chuck West to resign in the wake of a pending criminal trial alleging misconduct in his office.

Regardless of West's response, he may end up being the county's last coroner.

County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said Tuesday she expects the board will take up the resolution some time after the courts dispense with the fight over whether taxpayers will foot the bill for West's legal defense. Judge T. Jordan Gallagher agreed to appoint an outside lawyer as a special state's attorney to state the county's case against paying West's bills last Friday.

With that issue in the hands of the legal system, the county board will ask the question of whether West's office is able to function as it must. McConnaughay said she doesn't think the public can trust the coroner's office as long as West is in charge and the criminal allegations are unresolved.

"I've been very outspoken about the fact that I believe this whole case is such a distraction to (West's) ability to perform his role as the coroner that it would be in everybody's best interest (if he) takes a leave of absence," McConnaughay said. "I've not suggested that he resign, although that would be OK, too. All we can do is make official requests, but that has no weight."

McConnaughay said she has no interest in creating a "public circus" by calling West before the county board to ask him about his conduct or the ongoing functionality of his office. West said previously he has no intention of resigning. On Tuesday he declined to comment on the idea of a leave of absence.

McConnaughay said if West were to resign, or be removed from office for misconduct, the Kane County sheriff would take over the immediate duties of the coroner. The day-to-day functions of the office would fall to the deputy coroner. But then, depending on the timing of the vacancy, McConnaughay would appoint a replacement until the next general election. West still has two years remaining in his term, but November is the next general election.

Even if West is vindicated, county residents may soon see a question about the coroner on a ballot.

"We're one of the last remaining states that have coroners," McConnaughay said. "Most others have gone to medical examiners. You've got a coroner, but you've still got to have a medical professional to perform the autopsy. I hear a lot of people talking about that. It's something that we should start asking our board members about. (Changing it) is as simple as this board putting the question on the ballot."

Maybe not.

Of Illinois' 102 counties, only Cook has a medical examiner rather than a coroner, according to Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil, who is president of the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association. He said switching systems requires a voter referendum and, most likely, the hiring of two board-certified forensic pathologists whose salaries could range from $200,000 to $250,000 each.

Coroners, such as West, need no medical education or special background to hold the office other than the political savvy to get elected. Coroners usually subcontract with forensic pathologists who do the medical end of the work, including the autopsies. The coroner position itself is more of a managerial role.

Kane County would not be the first governing board to consider switching to a medical examiner.

"The issue has come up in other counties, but it's been defeated at the board level after they looked at the cost analysis," O'Neil said. "Just the salaries portion of it would chew up the budget."

Asked about a medical examiner system on Tuesday, West said the county already decided years ago it was "financially impossible."

The fact the board is investigating the concept again, West said, "just points to the fact they have no idea about this office."

Staff Writer Harry Hitzeman contributed to this report