Des Plaines voters still want to elect a city clerk

Voters in Des Plaines decided Tuesday that they should continue to an elect a city clerk, rather than have the city manager appoint one.

According to unofficial results with all precincts reporting, 5,513 voters opposed having an appointed clerk, while 2,737 voted in favor of it.

The total does not include mail-in or provisional ballots.

The city clerk, elected to serve a four-year term, helps oversee local elections, processes Freedom of Information Act requests and prepares minutes of city meetings, among other administrative duties.

The mayor, city clerk and city manager all supported changing the job to an appointed, full-time position.

"Many other suburban towns have appointed, rather than elected, city clerks," City Clerk Jennifer Tsalapatanis said last year, adding she is not interested in an appointed position.