Kane County searching for a local Republican to fill treasurer position
Kane County officials are looking for a local Republican interested in taking on the six-figure job of county treasurer for the next two years.
Longtime county Treasurer David Rickert resigned earlier this month to take a job as the chief financial officer for Winnebago County. That began a 60-day clock to fill the seat, as required by state law.
Last week, the county board named Rickert's chief deputy, Maria Herrera, as the "interim acting treasurer." She has worked in the office for the last 25 years, rising to the position of chief deputy in 2016.
Rickert's formal replacement must be appointed by county board Chair Corinne Pierog and approved by the county board.
By law, the replacement must be from the same political party as the elected official who vacated the office. Rickert is a Republican. He unsuccessfully ran against Pierog for the chairman seat in November.
The requirements of being from the same political party are not clear, but in recent years Kane County has viewed the pulling of either a Democrat or Republican ballot during the most recent primary election as the measuring stick.
Kane County Republican Party officials are expected to put forward a least one candidate who would be interested in running for a full term in two years. But Democrats, who now have a majority on the county board, may have other ideas. Any person appointed to fill the seat for the next two years would have an advantage in the next election.
According to the treasurer's website, the treasure has "the duty and power to receive and safely keep the revenue and public monies of the county. It is also the duty of the county treasurer to invest and reinvest any funds which are not to be used within 30 days. Along with the collection of real estate taxes, the county treasurer collects the Mobile Home Local Service Tax and administrates the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program on behalf of the Department of Revenue."
The treasurer has a staff of 10 and manages a current budget of $731,000. The appointed treasurer will be required to be bonded and to complete statutory training within 60 days of taking office.
Anyone interested in being appointed treasurer should send a letter of interest, resume and three references to KaneCountyBoard@co.kane.il.us or deliver the information to the Kane County Board office at 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva, IL 60134 by 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3.