Efforts are continuing to combine the DuPage County clerk’s office and the DuPage Election Commission, but it would not happen until after the November election, County Board Chairman Dan Cronin told board members this week. The consolidation idea follows the absorption two weeks ago by DuPage of a Naperville street-lighting district and comes as Cook County considers merging its clerk and recorder of deeds. “We are moving forward with our efforts to create a streamlined, more efficient, more cost-effective government,” Cronin said at Tuesday’s County Board meeting.
Cronin has met with Election Commission Chair Cathy Terrill and County Clerk Paul Hinds “to discuss both the framework for governing elections and on the plan to operationalize this consolidation.” He plans another update in December. “I think so,” he said. “The county clerk does the elections in most other counties, so we’ve discussed this over the past couple years as a way to save money.”
Terrill said it makes sense to consider ways of streamlining government. “As we look at what is the best model for administering elections, the goal is to find additional savings while providing DuPage voters the highest level of service,” she said. “We’re looking for a framework for a new model that provides good governance but still follows best practices in election management, provides cost-effectiveness and accountability, eliminates duplication and retains our commitment to transparency.”
Full Article: DuPage County eyes merging Election Commission, clerk’s office – Naperville Sun.