Endorsement: Chaplin for DuPage County Recorder

Two candidates are seeking the office of DuPage County Recorder: longtime DuPage County Board member Elizabeth (Liz) Chaplin, a Democrat, and Winfield Township Supervisor Nicole Prater, a Republican. The one elected will replace incumbent Kathleen Carrier, who was beaten in the primary election by Chaplin.

Chaplin says the recorder’s office has grown stagnant in recent years, with no community outreach or social media presence. She plans to hire a community outreach director to collaborate with title companies, real estate attorneys and veterans’ organizations to drive engagement and awareness.

“My experience as a county board member, where I secured support for a $1 million water connection program and a $45,000 Poised for Success initiative, has equipped me to effectively advocate for additional staffing and the necessary funding,” she says.

She expresses concern about the high degree of turnover in the recorder’s office and plans to appoint a deputy recorder, as that position has been open since March.

Prater, an Air Force veteran, says she believes in service before self and integrity first. One of her priorities is to heighten community awareness of programs such as the Veterans' Honors Program and the Property Fraud Alert program. She would like to revamp the county website for better visibility and accessibility and institute a notary program offering an online notarization service.

Prater is a strong candidate but Chaplin’s experience, particularly her bipartisan record, county board tenure and success in restoring the county’s AAA bond rating while serving as the county’s finance chair, gives her the edge. Chaplin is endorsed.