County: Island Lake clerk's exit won't affect election

Island Lake Village Clerk Pam Miller's resignation won't affect how ballots are counted on Election Day, Lake County election officials said Tuesday.

Miller submitted a letter of resignation Monday, and it's effective April 4 — the day before the election. One of the county's more contentious races is in Island Lake, where six candidates are fighting for three open seats on the board.

Some candidates have expressed concern that Miller's departure could allow Election Day high-jinks.

In an e-mail sent to Mayor Debbie Herrmann, other county and village officials and the media, candidate Joe Ptak urged trustees, election judges and the county clerks for Lake and McHenry counties to ensure “that we have a fair and honest election, and that the votes are properly counted (and) recorded.”

Island Lake is split between Lake and McHenry counties. Village hall is in Lake County.

Lake County's elections administrator, Cindy Pagano, said a village clerk has no role on Election Day and has nothing to do with how ballots are counted.

Village clerks have only two roles regarding elections, Pagano said: receiving candidates' paperwork to appear on the ballot and then certifying the candidates for ballots. And for this election, those jobs were completed weeks ago.

Election Day voting is overseen by the county clerk's office, Pagano said. Votes cast in Island Lake and other communities on April 5 are counted in Waukegan.

That news came as a relief to Island Lake trustee candidate Thea Morris.

“Because it's such a heated race, we need to ensure 100 percent neutrality with the votes,” Morris said.

In addition to Morris and Ptak, the other candidates are Charles Cermak, Shannon Fox, Allen Murvine and Mary Piekarski.

The race has been one of the hottest in the region, reflecting a deep political divide in village hall.

Fox, Morris and Ptak are running as a slate opposed to Herrmann and her allies on the board.

Cermak, Murvine and Piekarski are running as a separate slate.

Cermak expressed no concerns about Miller's resignation affecting the election results.

“I'm sure they do a great job,” he said of the county clerks' staffs.

Miller cited health issues, personal obligations and the stress of the job as reasons for her resignation. Island Lake's board meetings have become increasingly contentious, with the board and mayor squabbling over major and minor issues in recent months.

Miller successfully ran as part of Herrmann's political slate in 2009. Her term was set to expire in 2013.

It's up to the mayor and board to appoint a successor who will finish the term. Herrmann said she'll make a recommendation after next week's election.