Orr honors suburban Cook County's top election judges
Cook County Clerk David Orr on Thursday, Sept. 20, honored the top Election Day poll workers in suburban Cook County for their dedication, hard work and depth of election knowledge at a recognition ceremony.
Of nearly 8,000 suburban poll workers, about 70 were selected for special recognition and invited to attend the ceremony.
Mary Ann Ahern, political reporter for NBC-5, served as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
"It takes an army to put on an election, and you're all on the front lines - it's you that makes it all happen," Ahern said. "As someone who has seen my fair share of elections, both as a reporter and a voter, thank you for your service and dedication, which has such an exponential impact on our democracy."
The honorees ranged in age from 20 to 87 and hold more than 400 years of combined election experience. The ceremony and lunch were held at the Cook County Administration Building, 69 W. Washington St.
"Many people may not know this, but on Election Day it's not the Clerk's office that's running things - it's you," Orr said. "Your commitment to the democratic process is exemplary, and we are proud to honor your efforts. Despite changes to the election process over the years, you have remained steadfast and continue to give every voter professional and courteous treatment."
Suburban Cook County's nearly 8,000 election judges are responsible for preparing their designated polling place, setting up election equipment, assisting voters and securing votes at the end of the night. All judges attend regular trainings each election cycle to learn new policies, procedures and techniques.
The Clerk's office is always looking for individuals to serve their communities on Election Day. Anyone interested in learning how to apply to become a poll worker can visit the Clerk's website at cookcountyclerk.com/work.
The following is a list of the Northwest suburban honorees listed by township:
Barrington: Jeanne Yeagley and Sandra Schild
Elk Grove: Maria Villareal and Gabriel Castro
Hanover: Liola Carey, Malik Parkash and Elena Cortes
Leyden: Toni Bennett and Michael Smyla
Maine: Linda Anders and Judith Anderson
Niles: Mary Brown and G D Patel
Palatine: Randall Everett and Antonio Mazzocco
Schaumburg: Anthony Domino and Randall Bergman
Wheeling: Robert Gaudio and Jinhun Lee
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