Brin loses re-election bid for Lake County circuit court clerk

Republican Lake County Circuit Court Clerk Keith Brin lost his re-election bid Tuesday.

Unofficial results showed Democrat Erin Cartwright Weinstein beat Brin 150,737 to 131,874. Brin was ahead all night, but Weinstein pulled into the lead once early votes were added to totals.

It was Weinstein's first political campaign. She's an attorney from Gurnee.

Brin, of Highland Park, was elected in 2012.

The circuit clerk's office handles criminal and civil court filings, traffic ticket payments, passport issuance and other tasks.

In what was a spirited election, Weinstein disputed Brin's position that he's reduced annual office spending since 2012. She also contends the office has overspent on a technology consultant who hasn't delivered, leaving visitors to the main Waukegan office to contend with outmoded computers.

Brin said there's been nothing wrong with his technology spending. He said the examples of proper technology expenses by his office include creating a now-available mobile device application and pending improvements, such as a data exchange system with state offices and other government entities.