2008 General Election: Kane County coroner

Charles West, 66, a Republican, is a two-term incumbent. His challenger is Stan Hickrod, 44, a Democrat.

Charles West
Why are you running for this office?I love what I do! Everyday provides a new experience and challenge. Over the last several years as Coroner, I have had the opportunity to connect with people during very difficult times in their lives. These opportunities have allowed me to meet some extraordinary and courageous people throughout the County. I also have the privilege of working with a staff that works well together as a team and brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the office. Together we work to provide dignity and respect to the deceased and their families while always looking for opportunities to educate the community in preventing unnatural or premature deaths. I look forward to again working with the County Board in addressing the challenges of providing the best services possible to a growing population in the most fiscally responsible way.

What makes you the most qualified candidate in this race? Discuss your accomplishments.
Prior to being elected in 2000, I served as a South Elgin paramedic/firefighter for seven years. During this time I responded to hundreds of calls gaining invaluable experience in emergency scene management, extrication, communication and grief/crisis intervention. Additionally, I was a Deputy Coroner for Kane County for eight years. As Deputy Coroner, I investigating hundreds of deaths, participated in the coroner's inquest process and represented the office in numerous civic and community events.

I hold both a bachelor and master's degree and have been trained in basic and advanced forensic death investigation. Additionally, I have attended numerous seminars and educational programs in forensics, disaster management, critical incident stress, bioterrorism and domestic violence.

I have participated in numerous state and national disasters including: Oklahoma City Bombing, American Eagle plane crash, Plainfield tornado, Amtrak train accident in Buorbannais and Fox River Grove bus/train accident.

I was elected as Kane County Coroner in 2000 and again in 2004. As Coroner, I oversee approximately 2,700 death investigations each year. In determining the manner and cause of death, I work closely with law enforcement, health care providers, social service agencies and family members from all areas of the county. I also serve as President of the Kane County DUI taskforce and have addressed thousands of students on issues of drinking and driving and drug abuse.

As a result of the large number of death investigations in Kane County each year, patterns or trends are often revealed. Such was the case with the number of unnatural deaths of senior citizens. The number of cases investigated where seniors were neglected, abused or victims of crime was increasing. This alarming trend prompted the development of the first Senior Fatality Death Review Team in Illinois. To develop this team, I gathered together members from the Kane County State's Attorney, Senior Services, Department of Aging and Illinois Department of Public Health. The death review process was defined and the philosophy and protocols for such a team were established. This has become the blueprint for all other Illinois counties that wish to establish a team. Working with local state legislators, legislation was brought before the Illinois House and Senate. With successful passage of the legislation in both houses, the team began meeting the end of 2007.

Again the trend in death investigations in Kane County pointed to an increase in deaths from domestic violence. To raise community awareness of this, I partnered with both domestic violence agencies in Kane County, the Community Crisis Center of Elgin and Mutual Grounds in Aurora, and hosted a regional seminar for mental health, police, fire and health care. The conference featured the national spokesperson for domestic violence, Victor Rivas Rivera, as a keynote along with a forensic pathologist and a state's attorney to address the issues surrounding DV. Since this first conference, the Kane County Coroner's office has coordinated three additional annual conferences. The Coroner's office maintains a close working relationship with both DV agencies in the county working to address all aspects of domestic violence through early recognition, education on prevention and victim advocacy. This work to raise awareness about domestic violence earned me the Community Crisis Center's "Partner's in Peace" award in 2006.

When I was elected in 2000, the coroner's office was using typewriters for case input and tracking statistics manually. Recognizing the inefficiencies of these systems and the lack of county funding, I worked to obtain a grant that would allow for the purchase of hardware and software for the office. As part of the grant, my staff and I worked with 4 computer companies and together designed and implemented an integrated, computerized network for the coroner's office. Along with state of the art computer hardware, the office received software that allows for improved data entry, data retrieval and statistics. As a result of this process, we received national recognition in 2005 for outstanding technology. I traveled to Washington D.C. and accepted an award on behalf of the team.

What are the most pressing issues facing the office you seek?Providing the best quality service to a growing population in a tough economic time.

If elected will you take your pay raise?This issue is currently under review by the states attorney's office.

Stan Hickrod
Why are you running for this office?
I have been preparing to become Kane County Coroner for the past 25 years working in public service as a police officer, funeral director and embalmer. Throughout my adult life I have received education and specialized training to become coroner.

I feel that it is time for a change in the coroner's office and that I am the most qualified and well-rounded candidate to become the Kane County Coroner.

What makes you the most qualified candidate in this race? For incumbents, discuss your accomplishments. For challengers, what about the incumbent's time in office suggests there's a need for change?
Many people do not realize that the coroner's office is a law enforcement agency which investigates and determines cause and manner of death, utilizing a forensic pathologist if needed. Also, the position of coroner is a balance of medical knowledge and law enforcement skills which I have clearly prepared for throughout my life. As a police officer I have investigated all types of deaths and numerous crime scenes. I have received specialized and specific training in death investigation from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, Chicago Police Academy and the State of Illinois.
I am a Graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science. While attending Worsham College I received extensive medical training and specialized instruction in anatomy dissection from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

I have also received training from, or in conjunction, with the F.B.I., Northwestern Traffic Institute, North East Multi-Regional Training, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and the International Criminal Justice Service.

My experience and specialized training as it pertains to the coroner's office makes me the most qualified, knowledgeable and well-rounded candidate to be the Kane County Coroner.

I believe there's a need for a change for many reasons and I will share a few with you.
First, the current administration has done virtually nothing to obtain additional funding for training of the staff over the past eight years.Training is a vital part of the office and this ensures that we have a competent and qualified staff investigating deaths.
Second, the current administration has not worked cooperatively with the county board or chairman when addressing concerns of the coroner's office or the county in general.
I will meet with the board and chairman and mend the strained relationships to create an open dialogue and work together to get things done.

Lastly, we are in tough economic times and the county revenue projection is expected to be lower than originally anticipated.

The current coroner is consistently over budget, and uses his county assigned vehicle for personal use and to attend political functions at the tax payer's expense. There are many areas the coroner can reduce his budget but refuses to do so, and has went as far as to hire his son to work in the coroner's office as a deputy coroner. I associate this activity with "Chicago" politics and I believe that this activity and nepotism has no place in the coroner's office.

As coroner, I will stop this abuse of our county tax dollars and will work diligently to work within my allotted budget.

What are the most pressing issues facing the office you seek?
There are several pressing issues facing the office and three that I will briefly expand on.
First, the future growth of the county will affect every aspect of the office from the budget to death investigations. We need a proactive and fiscally responsible coroner who will anticipate the needs of the office and who will work cooperatively with the county board. I possess the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective and efficient coroner, who will work in the best interest of the county.

Second, with this growth we will see a rise in the number of deaths and will need to anticipate the future needs of the existing building which houses the coroner's office. The current building was not originally designed to be a coroner's office and will pose future issues. As coroner, I will work cooperatively with the board to resolve anticipated issues.

As coroner, I will make community outreach and education a priority. I will educate the public on the benefits of organ donation and death related to lifestyle. Both of these issues can affect many lives in a positive manner and prevent many deaths.

If elected, will you take your pay raise?
It is my understanding that the county board approved the pay raise this past May and it is to take effect on December 1, 2008.

I will refuse the pay raise if I am able to do so legally. It is unclear, but it is my understanding that if you do not fill out the necessary paper work to obtain the increase then you will not receive the pay raise.

However, if I receive the raise I will put this money to good use within my office.

The current administration, over the past eight years, has done nothing to secure funding to provide a dignified and respectful burial/cremation for unclaimed bodies and approximately 30 + unclaimed cremains. The unclaimed cremains have been on a storage shelf in a garage some as long as 40 + years. I find this to be disrespectful and unacceptable. I will initiate work with the county board to acquire funding so I can provide a dignified funeral service for those less fortunate than others.