Unanimous vote from the County Board finalizes Rickert’s new job as Winnebago County’s new chief financial officer

As previously reported on McHenry County Blog, Kane County Treasurer David Rickert (R, Elgin) was offered and accepted the position of chief financial officer (CFO) for Winnebago County, reporting to the county administrator.

Last Thursday night, the formal appointment was approved by unanimous vote of the Winnebago County Board.

Rickert’s new job pays a total of $122,500 annual salary, which is a 22.5% base salary increase over his current annual salary as an elected official of $100K. His 22 years of IMRF vested pension will continue to increase since he will continue to work within county government, albeit a different county.

Rickert is 54, so retirement in the near future is not very likely. The CFO position does not have a residency requirement, so according to the Rockford Register Star, Rickert will be commuting from his Elgin home for the immediate future.

Rickert, who lost election last month for Kane County Board Chairman had two years remaining on his 6th term as county treasurer.

While Rickert, according to a brief introduction during Thursday’s county board meeting, indicated he started working in Rockford on Monday, December 7, he has not yet resigned his Kane County elected office, which a Daily Herald story on Wednesday said he may not do until January with a last day as county treasurer as late as January 29.

Through Friday, Rickert had not yet submitted his resignation.

Once Rickert submits his resignation and is formally accepted by the Kane County Board, the woman who beat Rickert last month for County Board Chairman will need to make an appointment of a Republican to be approved by the Democratic majority on the County Board.

Pierog told the Daily Herald she wanted to research what needs to be done, noting Rickert plans to transition his duties to his chief deputy prior to leaving office for good.

Rickert had made his preference known whom he wants his successor to be, through Kane County Republican Party Chairman Ken Shepro, who also serves as the Vice Chairman on the County Board.

According to the Daily Herald, Shepro revealed:

Pierog said she expects Rickert will have two to three names for suggested successors. However, Shepro said Rickert has made it known to him [Rickert] would like his chief deputy, Maria Herrera, to fill the vacancy.

Shepro described Herrera as “non-political.”

“We could just say, for the two years, let’s appoint a placeholder who is not going to run for the seat in 2022,” Shepro said. “That way no one gets a leg up on the election by running as an incumbent.”

Daily Herald, 12/9/20

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Given how, in the past two election cycles, 5 countywide offices have flipped from Republican to Democrat, plus the Democrats control the County Board and the Chairman’s office, looks like a “placeholder” is the best the Republicans can do. Once Rickert formally resigns, the wheels will begin and all will see if County Board Chair Pierog is going to do a formal search and interview candidates.

Any candidate for a Republican appointment must have cast a Republican ballot in the 2020 primary election.

The virtual meeting of the Winnebago County Board video can be viewed below, and is cued for the CFO appointment by the county administrator. The Rickert portion of the meeting is around 6 minutes:

• Winnebago County Board Meeting Rickert Appointment