Vanderventer wins new term as Lake County recorder

Veteran Lake County Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer easily won a new 4-year term Tuesday.

Vanderventer, a Democrat from Waukegan, was ahead of Libertyville Republican Robert Haraden 163,372 to 118,851, unofficial results showed.

Vanderventer has been the county recorder since 1996.

The recorder's office keeps real estate transactions, military discharge papers and other documents. The political race was a relatively quiet one, with neither candidate making as much noise as the hopefuls for circuit court clerk, state's attorney or other high-profile races.

Haraden wanted to dissolve the recorder's office and merge with the county clerk's office as a cost-cutting measure. Vanderventer said she'd be open to investigating whether a merger actually would save taxpayers money.