Karen A. Yarbrough: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: MaywoodWebsite: KarenforRecorder.comTwitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Cook County Recorder of Deeds Age: 65Family: Husband of 28 years, blended family of 6, 10 grandchildrenOccupation: Recorder of DeedsEducation: BS - CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITYMA - NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITYCivic involvement: CO-CHAIR 90 MILLION STRONG CAMPAIGNDIRECTOR- MAYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCEMEMBER - NOMCO ORGANIZATIONMEMBER - AKA SORORITYVARIOUS RECORDER ORGANIZATIONSElected offices held: STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 12 YEARSCOOK COUNTY RECORDER - 3 YEARSQuestions Answers How well has the Recorder of Deeds performed, and what qualifications would you bring to the office?The Recorder's Office has performed well over the past three years under somewhat adverse situations that plagued the office upon my tenure - employee training, an aging infrastructure and a cumbersome - not-so-user friendly website. My qualifications as a proven leader, administrator, legislator and advocate have allowed for addressing many of the deficiencies in the office. As a former legislator, I remain able to advance legislation in Springfield that has given us tools needed to address fraud, and help homeowners, realtors, and lending institutions.If you expect to ask for an increase in appropriations during the next four years, what areas would you want to put more money into?I have no expectations on requesting an increase in appropriations during the next four years. In fact, I have held the line on expenses and successfully been at or below budget during my entire tenure at the Recorder's office. Additionally, I have reduced appropriations by over two million dollars since taking office, and staff levels during the last three budget cycles, mostly through attrition. I am proud that we have expanded our advocacy priorities - veterans issues and property fraud - without the need for additional appropriations.List any of your relatives (including those related to you by marriage, and nieces/nephews) who are on the public payroll in Illinois, their jobs and who they work for.Husband - CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURTDaughter - CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURTDescribe 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?As a land records office, transparency and accessibility of records is vital, and one of our top priorities. Our user-friendly, easily-accessible website has allowed the public to transact business thoroughly, efficiently and with ease. Customers can view their records (back to 1985) online for free, and obtain certified copies without having to visit our office. A goal for a second term would be digitizing more old records to make them available online as well.Please list any elected office you have ever run for and what the result of that election was. Have you ever been appointed to fill an unexpired term?State Representative - 1998 - lostState Representative - 2000 - wonProviso Township Democratic Committeeman - 2002 - lostState Central Committee-woman 2008 -won (7TH CD)Proviso Township Democratic Committeeman - 2006 -wonWhat other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Continue to provide accurate, efficient service to taxpayers and be the chief advocate for homeowners by hosting public seminars that help them to protect their most valuable asset - their home - against fraud. Enhancing our Property Fraud Unit by making sure we have the skill set needed to continued to address fraud. Expand "E-Recording," which creates efficiencies and ease of filing for our public. Advance our efforts to obtain a new core document recording system, as our infrastructure is aged and outdated. Replacing this 12 year old system will lead to major workflow savings.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Congressman Dan Davis inspires me with his commitment to public service, education and advocacy on behalf of the citizenry.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My family emphasized being prepared and having a good work ethic. Those lessons have paid dividends over and over again.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?The road I've traveled has had its twists and turns but has made me the person I am - no do-overs!What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Reading was my favorite subject in school; it has continuously stoked my curiosity and provided a means to expand my understanding of the world.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?One of the best pieces of advice to my children is to have faith in God.