Carla Wyckoff: 2024 candidate for Lake County Circuit Court Clerk

Bio

Party: Republican

Office Sought: Lake County Circuit Court Clerk

City: Lake Forest

Age: 76

Occupation: Retired

Previous offices held: Lake County Clerk, 2014 — 2018

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?

Lake County residents and those who interact with our courts rightfully demand accuracy, professionalism, and efficient service from the Office of Lake County Circuit Court Clerk (LCCCCO). Instead, they are met with an inefficient office suffering from division and dysfunction due to a culture of politics and retribution. Lake County deserves better. I am running for Lake County Circuit Court Clerk to restore the public’s trust by getting politics out of the office and getting things done for our taxpayers. I would like to use my prior experience as an assistant state’s attorney (both criminal and civil) and as an elected county clerk to provide meaningful management and leadership to the LCCCCO as it incorporates new electronic systems and procedures. I want to use my skills to benefit both litigants and the overburdened taxpayers of Lake County.

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?

I would bring my experience as a criminal and civil prosecutor (23 years) and as an elected Lake County Clerk (4 years) to manage the LCCCCO staff individuals and the budget to focus on better serving both the court’s litigants and the people of Lake County. Priorities would be to establish a merit basis, rather than a political basis like the current Circuit Court Clerk which led to a $2.6 million lawsuit, to make personnel decisions; to focus on providing excellent customer service to litigation parties; to control overall costs to the benefit of taxpayers; and to maintain good working relationships with the 19th Judicial Circuit Judges, the Lake County Board, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and fellow Illinois Circuit Court Clerks. I am the best choice to restore the public’s trust and rid politics from the circuit clerk’s office, effectively modernize our services, and reduce our spending to help lessen the burden for our Lake County taxpayers.

Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the clerk of the circuit court'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?

Several factors are important when assessing resource allocation. The LCCCCO oversees operations in five different physical locations. There are approximately 135 staff individuals at different positions with different salary levels, with many included in union contract terms. Many fees, fines and costs are dictated by statute with the LCCCCO having spending discretion in three funds. The effect of recent changes in cash bond procedures is uncertain. These factors support the need to pursue staff cross-training to effect the most efficient operations from every department to serve litigants accurately and efficiently and to be able to cover costs of physical sites, updated information technology and equipment. We also need to control spending in the LCCCCO to help working families. The current circuit clerk increased spending to over $10 million for the first time. At a time when working families are struggling to afford necessities, our elected officials cannot be spending wastefully.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

Based on reports from attorneys who regularly access the LCCCCO filing and case management systems and reading customer reviews, more attention should be paid to customer service. Although all civil, and many criminal, cases are filed electronically, the system requires direct, manual review before a document (case) is “accepted” and considered officially filed. Attorneys have noted that acceptance sometimes takes longer than reasonable and it is difficult to get copies of filed documents, orders and court dates online. With increased automation, some personnel can be cross trained to assist in the acceptance process if it exceeds the reasonable time standard established. LCCCCO staff could also be trained and directed to better handle the subsequent complaints and questions. I have a proven track record of leading significant modernization efforts while staying under budget. As County Clerk, I led the implementation of Election Day voter registration and universal early voting sites.

Describe your position on transparency in the 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?

Transparency is a hallmark of the LCCCCO. With only certain statutory or judicially determined exceptions, all filed documents are public and should be available for viewing and production. As noted above, despite this electronic system with public portal, attorneys note that it is difficult to get copies of filed documents, orders and court dates online. Attorney, pro-se litigant and public access to documents and orders could be addressed by reviewing and enforcing original contract terms; by making needed changes to the system or software; or by providing additional training to assist the parties or the public to access the desired document(s)/information. When an elected official leads by example, the staff is more likely to follow suit which results in better service and dependability for our taxpayers.