Newcomers elected as Lake County coroner, circuit court clerk

Democrat Thomas Rudd will be Lake County’s next coroner, edging Republican Steve Newton in Tuesday’s election.

With all 415 precincts counted, unofficial totals show Newton received 132,504 votes to Newton’s 129,822. Rudd will replace the man he beat in the March primary, incumbent Democratic Coroner Artis Yancey.

Rudd noted he was down by about 3,000 tallies when early and absentee votes began to be tabulated.

“We suspected we could win big in early voting and that was the case,” Rudd said after his victory.

Rudd said he wants the office to be apolitical, while ensuring a cause of death in cases “will be what the truth shows.”

“The office is going to restore professionalism,” he said. “We’re going to have a physician running the office.”

Newton is a former chief deputy coroner. He campaigned on his experience and pledged to be a compassionate coroner.

In other regional contests, Republican Keith Brin of Highland Park defeated Democrat Rupam Dave for Lake County circuit court clerk.

With all precincts reporting Tuesday, Brin, who has been serving as the chief deputy clerk of the circuit court for the past three years, unofficially received 144,091 votes, compared to Dave’s 117,979. Brin will replace circuit court Clerk Sally Coffelt, who opted not to seek re-election.

Longtime Democratic Lake County Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer kept her position for another four years in Tuesday’s election. Unofficial totals from all 415 precincts show Vanderventer captured 154,252 votes to 109,819 for Republican Bob Bednar.

In Lake County Board District 1, Republican Linda Pedersen of Antioch beat Democrat Peter Grant of Antioch. Republican Tom Weber of Lake Villa topped Democrat Dale Kehr of Lindenhurst in county board District 3.

Incumbent Republican Lake County Board member Brent Paxton held onto his seat in District 4 by beating Democratic challenger Glenn Ryback, who is Wadsworth’s mayor. Republican Bonnie Thompson Carter of Ingleside held her county board District 5 seat by defeating Democrat Patricia Ferruzza.

Democratic Lake County Board member Pat Carey of Grayslake beat Republican Jeff Werfel in newly created District 6.

Democrat Sandra Hart of Lake Bluff defeated former state Sen. David Barkhausen Lake Bluff for the county board District 13 seat. In county board District 15, veteran Republican incumbent Carol Calabresa defeated Democratic challenger Del Parra.

Democratic Lake County Board member Terry Wilke of Round Lake Beach will return to his District 16 post. Wilke defeated Michael Carbone of Round Lake, who is on the Grayslake Elementary District 46 board.

Republican Craig Taylor of Lake Zurich will retain his District 19 seat on the Lake County Board after defeating Democrat Deborah Barry of Deer Park. Longtime Republican incumbent Ann Maine of Lincolnshire easily defeated Democratic challenger Arlene Hickory of Lake Bluff for the District 21 county board seat.

Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes, a Republican, held his job by topping Democrat Jeffrey Braiman, who’s Buffalo Grove village president.