Jean Kaczmarek receives 2022 Kathryn 'Tinker' Harvey Award for Leadership
More than 115 supporters of the Democratic Women of DuPage County gathered in Glen Ellyn on Sunday, May 22, for the annual Kathryn "Tinker" Harvey Founders Day event.
Kathryn "Tinker" Harvey, 1924-2013, was a force for the Democratic Party in DuPage County for over fifty years. She was the first woman to hold the Chairmanship of the DuPage County Democratic Party, a position she held for many years. In addition, she was a member of the U.S. Electoral College in 1996, 2000; a delegate or alternate delegate to five Democratic National Conventions, and a founding member of the Illinois Democratic Women. The 2022 Kathryn "Tinker" Harvey Leadership Award was presented to Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County Clerk, whose advocacy for many years on behalf of election integrity and voting access is recognized statewide.
Many in DuPage County remember primary night for the 2018 elections, when DuPage County's election system was unable to timely process and report election results, causing DuPage County to lag in reporting election night returns to the public. After winning the general election in 2018, Jean was required to merge the Clerk's office with this same Election Commission that had failed voters. There was no transition or implementation plan, but six weeks into her new role as Clerk, the office was running DuPage County elections for the first time in 45 years.
Jean led modernization efforts to help transform an understaffed, ill-equipped workplace by fixing issues that had defeated her predecessor. From software to servers, she reformed the office in ways that continue to help DuPage County protect the vote and serve voters.
As the Supreme Court recognized, "The right to vote is preservative of all others." Voting rights are fundamental to our nation. At a time when other states are struggling to protect the right to vote and failing to modernize, Jean Kaczmarek's tireless dedication to fairness and good government exemplify what it means to be a public servant.
The Democratic Women of DuPage County was honored to present Jean Kaczmarek with the Kathryn "Tinker" Harvey Leadership Award, and proud of her for protecting the voting rights of every U.S. citizen who resides in DuPage County, regardless of their political party.
Previous recipients include: Shannon Burns, Education Program Coordinator for the DuPage County Forest Preserves; Corinne Pierog, Kane County Board Chairman; Dianne McGuire, Co-Leader of Indivisible Naperville and DWDC President; Kim Savage, Co-President, Illinois Democratic Women; Deb Conroy, State Representative, District 46; Linda Holmes, State Senator and Assistant Deputy Leader, District 42; Regina Brent, Founder/President of Unity Partnership; and Cynthia Borbas, former President of the Democratic Party of DuPage County.