Democrat Kilkelly running for Lake County clerk

Democrat Janet Kilkelly, president of the Waukegan Park District board, has announced she’ll run for Lake County clerk in 2014.

Kilkelly is the first candidate to step forward for the Democratic Party primary, which is in March. Carla N. Wyckoff is seeking the Republican Party nomination.

Republican incumbent Willard Helander isn’t seeking re-election to the position she’s held since 1994. Helander announced her decision last month, citing state lawmakers’ decision to strip away the Lake County clerk’s election-related powers and assign them to a bipartisan commission. That legislation is being challenged in court.