A press release from Dave Bachmann announcing his challenge to Republican Coroner Marlene Lantz:
BACHAMANN FILES AS DEMOCRAT FOR McHENRY COUNTY CORONER
WOODSTOCK—David John Bachmann, the founder and former owner of a Crystal Lake funeral home, filed petitions today with the County Clerk’s office to run for the Democratic nomination for McHenry County Coroner.
Bachmann, of Hebron, said “I am eminently qualified for the office having 30 years experience serving grieving families as a licensed Funeral Director world wide.”
The son of a prominent Crystal Lake businessman, Bachmann chose to enter what he calls the “death care industry” as a young man. After working in California and Florida, he returned to McHenry County where he worked at a prominent Cary funeral home before opening his own Bachmann Funeral Home (now Skaja-Bachmann) in 1987. He served the local community in many volunteer capacities including as president of the Kiwanis, a board member of Crime Stoppers and Senior Citizens of Illinois, chairman for Special gifts for the American Heart Association, and an educator in death and dying for Hospice of Northern Illinois and at McHenry County College.
Bachmann sold the funeral home in 1991 and relocated with his family to Florida where he continued his career as funeral director and executive. After surviving a near fatal brush with cancer and two serious accidents, Bachmann sold his Florida business and spent a year serving as “Embalmer of State” in the impoverished Mexican state of Tlaxcala where he trained medical examiners in safe handling of human remains before moving last year to Hebron.
“I am running as a Democrat,” Bachmann said, “because I believe in diversity. I strongly believe that all public offices should be free and open for any qualified American to seek not only for the chosen or a select few. This is a pioneering concept in McHenry County.”
As coroner Bachmann said he would have three priorities: properly securing remaining prescription drugs in the homes of the deceased, educating immigrant communities about proper and legal procedures around the death of a loved one, and educating youth in the permanence of death to discourage risk taking behaviors.
McHenry County Blog ran articles about his pending candidacy on October 20th and October 21st.