McHenry Times

Joe Tirio wants to get rid of his own position in McHenry County.

A candidate for county clerk, Tirio's platform includes eliminating the post of county recorder, which he currently occupies.

“I believe we could roll the county recorder position and the clerk post into one position and have the same level of his efficiency,” Tirio told the McHenry Times. “Right now, 86 of the 102 local counties do things that way. I don’t think the county gains any additional benefits by having that office, and I know for a fact combining them will save money. My run for clerk is about providing better, more reliable government, and this kind of consolidation will increase cost reduction.”  

Joe Tirio, McHenry County recorder

The public will have its say on March 20, when a binding referendum proposal on the matter will be on the ballot.

Tirio, who lives in Woodstock and has been recorder since 2016, said his experience convinces him that combining the two positions would be a seamless transition.

“In my time as recorder, I think the voters have come to realize that I do the things I say I will do, and I do them quickly,” he said. “Shortly after I won office for recorder, I had people coming up asking me about the clerk’s office.”

As clerk, Tirio said a major focus for him will be running a streamlined and professional operation that takes the clerk’s office of being responsible for supervising elections, overseeing voter registration and upkeeping county records seriously.

“Illinois is fraught with so many problems,” he said. “So much of county government is filled with nepotism and corruption. We won’t allow that to be a part of what we do."

With incumbent Clerk Mary McClellan having already announced she won’t be seeking a second term, Tirio is running unopposed in the Republican field, though he readily admits he knows things only get harder from this point on.

“I’m sure the Democrats will be fielding a candidate for the general election,” he said.

If voters approve the referendum proposal, the office of recorder will officially end operations in December 2020.