Republican Cook County Clerk candidate talks efficiency, voter integrity, change

(The Center Square) – Democrat Monica Gordon, Republican Michelle Pennington and Libertarian Christopher Laurent are on the ballot for Cook County Clerk, after the death of Clerk Karen Yarbrough earlier this year.

Gordon is a Cook County commissioner. The south suburban Democrat spoke at a recent news conference about the importance of getting flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

“Unfortunately, we have people out there that say, ‘Oh no, the shot causes this. This will happen with the shot.’ We really got to combat that messaging,” Gordon said.

According Pennington, the people of Cook County deserve a more efficient government that works for them.

“The problem we have is that we’ve had one party in for too long, and that’s allowed them to not have the oversight that comes from a two-party system,” Pennington told The Center Square.

Pennington is a businesswoman seeking her first public office. She said half of the clerk’s job is similar to bookkeeping.

“It’s keeping track of important records. I would argue, that’s the most important job of government, just to maintain these services that allow us all to live together in harmony. We need to make sure that those services are accurate and friendly,” Pennington said.

Pennington noted that the Cook County Clerk manages all of the elections in suburban Cook County.

“I really feel that both sides are struggling to have confidence in our election system. My hope is that, through transparency in the process, that is the way that we can make voters feel confident that their vote counts,” Pennington said.

Regarding Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposed $9.89 billion budget recommendation for fiscal year 2025, which is more than $620 million more than fiscal year 2024, Pennington said she did not think it was a good deal for county taxpayers.

“There’s enough money in government. The problem is, it’s not being spent efficiently and it’s being spent doing other things that aren’t simply providing services,” Pennington said.

Laurent has proposed streamlining bureaucracy and enhancing transparency.

Election Day is Nov. 5.