Bertino-Tarrant begins term as new Will County executive

Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant was sworn in as the new Will County executive on Monday as she begins a new era in county government.

The Democrat from Shorewood was elected to the role last month. She is the county's first elected female executive and comes into office after Larry Walsh Sr.'s 16-year tenure.

Walsh died last June after a years-long battle with prostate cancer. Denise Winfrey, D-Joliet, has served as the interim county executive since then and has been helping Bertino-Tarrant with the transition.

Since the election, Bertino-Tarrant said she's been meeting with Winfrey, heads of departments, county contractors and members of the county board. Winfrey said her office has provided Bertino-Tarrant with materials to help her get a grasp on the ins and outs of county government.

While Bertino-Tarrant said she aims to continue Walsh's legacy leading the county, she said she's told county officials she wants to leave her own mark in the role.

"Anything that we talk about and change, isn't about a criticism (of Walsh), it's just about putting my leadership style on it and putting my touch on it," she said.

During her brief remarks on Monday after she was sworn in, Bertino-Tarrant said she wants to "polish up" the county. She said her goal is to be hands on and meet regularly with department leaders so she's aware of any concerns in day-to-day county operations.

"I'm not a micromanager, but I do like to know what's going on," she said.

One of the big issues Bertino-Tarrant said she wants to take on is a more active leadership role in is combating the COVID-19 epidemic. She wants mayors to join in on a more "collaborative approach" in asking residents and businesses to comply with public health mandates to slow the spread of the virus.

Will County's average test positivity for the virus has been around 17%, higher than the state's average of about 10%.

"We are not going to be able to decrease our numbers unless we're all on the same page," she said.

She'll have a number of other challenges ahead like helping develop a plan to alleviate truck traffic in the county. At least for Monday, just hours before she would preside over her first County Board meeting, Bertino-Tarrant thanked her supporters and fellow county officials for welcoming her into the new role.

"This is such a humbling experience," she said. "People who have watched me over the years know I get choked up at this because as many times as you do it, it's still very moving that people have faith in you."