Joe Tirio Running for McHenry County Clerk

Joe Tirio

Joe Tirio announced his candidacy for McHenry County Clerk at a well-attended d’Anddrea’s luncheon on Saturday.

Tirio is known for his successful, duel-messaged campaign for McHenry County Recorder last year:

He won a three-way Republican Party primary race and beat back a challenge by the Democrats in the fall.

And the McHenry County Board put a referendum to abolish the Recorder as an elected official on next March’s primary ballot, thus taking another step to implement Tirio’s idea to merge the Recorder’s Office into the County Clerk’s.

(In smaller counties, the County Clerk is the County Recorder.  It is only when a county reaches 60,000 that the Recorder’s duties are split into a separate office. )

June 25th, the Saturday fundraiser was announced on McHenry County Blog.

Although chronological events do not necessarily reflect causality,  County Clerk Mary McClellan announced she was not running for re-election shortly thereafter.  McLean, Peoria and Tazewell Counties had abolished their Recorders as elected officials when Tirio began his quest. McClellan did not attend the luncheon, but her opponent, appointed Judge Robert Willbrandt did, as did judicial candidate Tiffany Davis.)

On Saturday, Algonquin Township Road Commissioner and Republican Party Chairman–replete in his pink breast cancer pink tee shirt–started the business part of the event by saying,

“This guy keeps his promises.”

Andrew Gasser warms up the crowd before Joe Tirio’s announcement.

Gasser, coming from sandbagging at the Road District complex, then went on to introduce the other promise keeping public officials in the room:

  • Sheriff Bill Prim
  • State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally
  • County Treasurer Glenda Miller
  • State Rep. Allen Skillicorn
  • McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz
  • McHenry County Board member Jeff Thorsen
  • McHenry County Board Craig Wilcox
  • McHenry County College Board member Diane Evertsen
  • McHenry County College Board member Chris Jenner
  • McHenry County College Board member Karen Tirio
  • Algonquin Township Trustee Rachael Lawrence
  • Greenwood Township Trustee Kelly Liebman

He also pointed to District 6 McHenry County Board candidate Orville Brettman.

County Recorder Tirio Announces Run for Clerk

Joe Tirio announces he is running for McHenry County Clerk.

WOODSTOCK, IL – At a fundraiser celebrating the resolution that will likely end the role of Recorder in McHenry County, current County Recorder Joe Tirio announced his intent to run for County Clerk in 2018.

“So, today, I ask for your support as I announce my candidacy for McHenry County Clerk, to allow me to continue what I began as Recorder, and ask you to join me in my continued pursuit of honest, reliable, efficient government”, said Tirio as he concluded his speech.

In the eight months since Tirio took office he has

  • reduced cost
  • maintained levels of service for the core duties of the office
  • introduced LEAN concepts
  • designed and implemented One Place Knowledge Management and Performance Tools
  • established improved Management processes
  • improved staff and management communication and
  • implemented the Honor Rewards program that provides honorably discharged veterans with discounts at local businesses.

Joe says that when he wins the race (and assuming that the referendum passes to eliminate the Recorder role), he will continue the work to prepare the two offices for their eventual integration while targeting reduced operating costs, improved service and transparency.

“I look forward to working with the fine people of both the Recorder and Clerk’s offices as we turn a page in this County’s already remarkable history.”

### About Joe Tirio Born in Chicago and raised primarily in the western suburbs, Joe lives with his Wife, Karen in Woodstock where he has lived for 14 of the 17 years he has Lived in McHenry County. He and his wife own Monarch Senior Care, located in Woodstock. Joe is also the co-founder of Voters In Action (VotersInAction.com), a citizen activist group focused on increasing public involvement in government with an eye toward reducing taxes and corruption and increasing transparency.


Comments

Joe Tirio Running for McHenry County Clerk — 16 Comments

  1. Joe Tirol would be perfect, I know him and there is nobody that could do a better job!!

    Needless to say You have My vote!!!

  2. Seeing Joe’s primary opponent Joni Smith there
    Is a testament to both her and Joe. And that, Ladies and Gentlemen is how it’s done.

    All the best to them both.

  3. He has our votes!!!

    And we will definately do whatever we can to promote and support him.

    Take note Jack this how you get it done with out making alot of people unhappy or trying to make yourself look good on the backs of people that actually do what they say they will.

    Some elected officials really care about the job they do and not how much they can take advantage of the taxpayers, pad their bank accounts and benifit their pals and political supporters.

  4. Joe is the man to watch if you’re looking for the new face of the Republican Party in McHenry County.

    He means what he says and doesn’t make any false promises.

  5. Rarely do you find everyone in agreement on this blog…

    the fact that we all agree is a testament to Joe,..

    Joe has My VOTE….

  6. Everyone I know is going to vote for Tirio.

    His first big project should be cleansing the county of all the duplicate voter registrations

  7. Re: “cleansing the county of all the duplicate voter registrations” and doing it without sending out duplicate voter registration cards!

  8. Joe seems like a nice guy but what does he know about running an Election?

    This is not a run itself office like the recorders is.

    I wish someone who knew the office and responsibilities of the office would run and not just another politician.

  9. Joe already knows more about elections and voter registration than the current office holder.

    Unlike the current Clerk, he is WILLING to learn!

    In addition he will not hire his wife but will hire COMPETENT people.

  10. “Joe already knows more about elections and voter registration than the current office holder.” and do you know this?

    Again, I like Joe and I like him MUCH more than the current clerk!

    But WHAT DOES HE KNOW?

    I agree with consolidating the offices, but WHAT DOES HE KNOW?

    This office is not easy.

    There is a reason Phyllis Walters only had to come in once a month and Kathy Schultz had to be there everyday.

    If he knows the office as you say then he gets my vote but he does not get it just because he was key to combining the two offices.

    So many questions need to be answered.

    Why did Kathy never have to close the office on election day?

    why did Kathy never require a “call center”?

    Why does the office now need to out source the making of the ballots?

    why does the office now require the out sourcing of the tax calculations?

    why does the office now require multiple people everyday at the building that holds the touch screen equipment?

    When Kathy was in charge the equipment was done updated in just a couple months prior to each election with just a couple people.

    What has changed?

    If Joe can answer this he gets my vote, but he does not get it for just consolidating the two offices.

    I am sorry but again…WHAT DOES HE KNOW?

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