Rudd, Newton still ahead in Lake County Coroner’s race

In the Democratic race for Lake County Coroner, challenger Thomas Rudd continued to hold an edge over incumbent Artis Yancey coming into the home stretch.

With 413 of 415 precincts reporting, Rudd, a physician from Lake Forest was ahead of Yancey 9,025 votes to 8,144, unofficial results showed.

On the Republican ballot, unofficial totals showed former chief deputy coroner Steve Newton maintaining his lead over Gurnee dentist Howard Cooper 20,078 to 16,483.

Yancey is a former police officer and chief who was appointed coroner last year to fill a vacancy.

Rudd was critical of Yancey’s job performance and professional credentials during the campaign. Yancey, however, ran a positive campaign that stressed the improvements he’s made in the office since replacing Richard Keller, who had to resign following a scandal that also cost him his medical license.

Newton, is a Lake County court security officer who had worked in the coroner’s office for seven years. He was fired in 2007 by then-coroner Keller. Keller had accused Newton of having an inappropriate relationship with a fellow employee. Newton later married the woman.

Cooper’s campaign tried to make political hay out of Newton’s dismissal, but the effort didn’t sway voters.