Letter: Keep your vote for McHenry County Coroner

To the Editor:

The coroner's office needs to remain independent of any and all outside influences to death investigations. Continuing electing the coroner in McHenry County helps to ensure separation of powers and duties of all the agencies (coroner, police agencies and state's attorney) involved in a death investigation and eliminates any bias or outside influence from the few who would have the power to appoint the coroner.

Many esteemed coroners from across Illinois spoke at the County Board meeting giving out many facts on why McHenry County should keep the coroner elected.

In unprecedented action and with no county board approval, Chairman Franks chose to sign the contract of a local lung doctor, Dr. Kellar, to evaluate the coroner's office. Dr. Kellar has no background in death investigation or forensics, could not recall when he evaluated the office when asked by County Board member Jeff Thorsen, and failed to even date his report which contained inaccurate and incorrect statements. I have said many times, if there was to be any independent study done of the Coroners office it should be done by the Illinois Coroners and Medical Association. These are the experts in Illinois and have many decades of experience and their board is made up of both Republicans and Democrats.

Bureau County had an elected coroner, went to an appointed coroner, and then switched back to an elected coroner. Why? Because it is to keep death investigations autonomous from outside influences. As stated by Peter Austin in a recent finance meeting, an appointed coroner will be more expensive to hire.

Since late March of last year, Jack Franks was suppose to bring forward a candidate 60 days, per County Board rules, after Dr. Majewski’s resignation. Jack Franks has done nothing except be derelict in his duties and politicize the coroners' office for the past 18 months. When a County Board member has stepped down, it was filled. Why not the coroner?

Keep your vote and the power in your hands and not giving it over to other politicians.

Vote no and keep the coroner elected by the citizens of McHenry County!

Michael Rein

Republican coroner candidate