Gregory Whalen: Candidate profile for DuPage County Coroner

Democrat Gregory Whalen is challenging Republican incumbent Richard Jorgensen for the DuPage County coroner position in the Nov. 3 general election.

Whalen, who is from Clarendon Hills, has more than 16 years of public safety experience working as a police officer, firefighter, and paramedic.

To explore his campaign website, check www.VoteGW.com.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates to answer a series of questions. Here are Whalen's replies.

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

A: I am running for DuPage County Coroner because I have dedicated my career to the public safety profession, and I believe I can use the experience I have gained over the last 16 years to help enhance the overall operations of the coroner's office.

I was particularly motivated to run for this specific position due to the lack of public presence and communication from the coroner's office. I have had many conversations with countless DuPage County residents who were uncertain of the roles and responsibilities of the coroner. It became apparent that many DuPage County residents did not realize the county coroner is a law enforcement position and that the coroner was considered the chief death investigator for the county.

Q: If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

A: As someone who is not currently employed by the county, I am an outsider that can bring a fresh perspective into a position that has been held by the same person and the same political party for a significant amount of time.

My priorities are to ensure accountability, improve communication, and create unrestricted transparency into both the financial state and operations of the coroner's office.

As an elected official, the coroner is accountable to the citizens of DuPage County. The coroner should be a visible figure in the community and be a resource to those seeking information. It is also my goal to establish partnerships to provide lifesaving education to the public.

It is imperative the coroner's findings, as it relates to the cause and manner of death, are strictly based upon forensic pathology, evidence, and investigative findings. The results of all investigations must be free of all bias, stereotyping, and/or political influence.

It shall be my top priority to maintain the integrity and credibility of the coroner's office. It is my promise to also ensure the coroner's office is a cooperative agency and will share information in accordance with state statue.

Q: What special experience and professional qualifications does a person need to be an effective coroner? What experiences and qualifications do you possess that will provide a foundation for your success in the office?

A: I have over 16 years of public safety experience working as a police officer, firefighter, and paramedic. I hold the rank of lieutenant/training officer and possess diverse field expertise to include the collection, processing, and preservation of evidence and investigation of a criminal act and fire/arson scenes.

I have a Master's Degree in Public Safety Administration, Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science Management and I am a graduate of Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command.

Q: Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the coroner's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expense or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?

A: I believe there is always a way to improve efficiency in a process. If elected, it will be my priority to review the operations currently in place, the established policies and procedures, capital/infrastructure improvement plans, and budgetary plans to find ways to improve efficiency while maintaining the strongest emphasis on maintaining strict financial responsibility.

Q: Describe your position on transparency and public service in the coroner's office and the ease of access to records by the public. If you believe improvements are needed, what are they and how would you go about achieving them?

A: Since transparency is such a critical part of the government, this a main part of my campaign. It is extremely important to have a complete and thorough understanding of what role your elected officials and their offices have in county government. Understanding their roles and responsibilities allows the citizens of DuPage County to be informed, after all, the operations of the county government are very expensive.

It is my belief; the coroner should be transparent about its operations. The coroner should release monthly reports outlining the activities the coroner's office was involved in during the prior month. The coroner should release an end-of-year report that summarizes the past year, provides a vision for the future of the coroner's office and any expected challenges that may be on the horizon for the office. It is my promise to ensure that information regarding the operations and financial state of the coroner's office is readily available to the citizens of DuPage County.