Laurie McPhillips Is Running For Will County Clerk's Office 2018

Laurie McPhillips wants to earn your vote for the Office of Will County Clerk in the 2018 election. With 27 years of experience at Will County offices, as well as her widespread volunteerism in the community over the past 20 years, McPhillips feels she is the ideal candidate for the job.

The most prominent function of the Will County Clerk is the Election Authority and managing elections in Will County. However, this is also a management position that oversees a staff of 27 employees, a budget of about $4.8 million and hundreds of duties.

Learn more about McPhillips' experience, priorities and upcoming events in this exclusive Patch one-on-one:

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?

McPhillips: As far as experience, I have managed three county offices with almost 27 years of experience working at Will County, working with three county clerks. This is a management job with numerous responsibilities. My experience includes 20 years as a county employee, gaining knowledge and experience to work my way up to county board administrator – the only staff person to the 27-member county board and a history of serving Democrats and Republicans, as well as director of operations to the county executive.

As director of operations, I was responsible for overseeing 15 county departments and almost 1,000 employees and preparing and implementing the county’s $250 million budget at that time.

I was elected and served as recorder of deeds for four years. My accomplishments include establishing the first ever online land records system and opening a satellite office in Bolingbrook using existing staff and free rent. I also earned the Auditor’s Fiscal Responsibility Award for returning the most tax dollars back to the County.

I was also appointed and then elected to serve on the Will County Board, which is the legislative or policy setting body, for almost three years. During this time I was elected as the Treasurer of the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners and served on the County Board Finance Committee and Public Works Committee.

Keep in mind that a few months after the county clerk takes office in December, there will be another election, so knowledge and experience is critical. I also have private sector experience managing a small business for over 20 years. You can’t go over budget or call in sick when you run a small business, so I run a tight ship!

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in and how did you get started?

McPhillips: I was actually involved in and elected to student government for four years at Lincoln-Way High School and thoroughly enjoyed the leadership responsibilities serving my school and the activities we helped organize. I started working for Will County Government after high school. I worked two jobs to pay for college and earned my A.A. in business management and my B.A. concentrating in business administration in five years of night school. During that time, I was promoted from executive secretary to county board administrator and director of operations to the county executive. I enjoy working with people and getting things done.

Patch: If you had to sum up your business mission to a stranger in five words, what would those words be?

McPhillips: Customer service, honesty, integrity, and transparency.

Patch: What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you faced in your job?

McPhillips: The biggest challenge I faced was when I was promoted to my former position of director of operations to the county executive was balancing family, work and our small business. This is a very common challenge, but it can be done with support from family and friends. We always do as much as possible as a family so that we can be together, whether it is volunteering, attending local events, rehabbing a home together or enjoying lunch or dinner.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?

McPhillips: I thoroughly enjoy helping people and making their lives better. Public service truly means serving the public and this is my favorite part of working in government. I have also extended this to being a servant leader in the community through my 20 years of volunteering in Will County, where I currently serve on numerous boards and commissions.

Patch: How would you say you distinguish yourself from the other candidates?

McPhillips: When County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots announced her retirement last summer, I felt that my experience and knowledge of county operations would be a perfect fit to continue to run the clerk’s office efficiently and effectively. I had received numerous calls encouraging me to run before I even announced my interest. The reason is because of my almost 27 years of experience at Will County and managing county offices, as well as my connection to the community over the past 20 years through volunteerism.

I am the only candidate who has actually managed a countywide office, preparing and implementing multi-million dollar budgets, managing employees, initiating new technology and implementing new laws. I have worked with three county clerks during my tenure at the county, which included working on elections, voter registration and working with Nancy Schultz Voots from the budgeting side to purchase new election equipment. I have also been a voter registrar for over 10 years.

The county clerk’s office has always been run by county clerks who have experience working at Will County, as well as those with honesty and integrity. This office runs in a non-partisan manner so that voters and the community can be assured of trustworthy elections, as well as the integrity of their vital records and the numerous other functions of the office. Experience and knowledge of county operations is critical, and that's why both County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots and former Clerk Jan Gould have both endorsed me.

Patch: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given when it comes to success?

McPhillips: I have actually had two pieces of advice that I believe are very important to success. The first is that “hard work will get you everywhere.” My parents raised us with a great work ethic to always give your best and don’t stop until you get the job done. My second piece of advice was to “always be honest and truthful.” If you make a mistake, own it and learn from it. These pieces of advice have led my life and helped me to be successful.

Patch: Are there any new projects or endeavors you’re working on that you’re extra excited about?

McPhillips: My top three priorities in the Will County Clerk’s Office will be:

1) Implementing A Cyber-Security Plan

Based on best practices that I learned at the Election Security in the Age of Committed Foreign Threats seminar I recently attended, I would engage the professionals who I spoke with at this meeting, including Homeland Security and other local, state and federal tools that are free resources, to assist in reviewing our election system and updating as needed to ensure that there are no threats. Just as important are the many checks and balances which the county clerk requires, and should be reviewed annually and updated as needed, as well as the paper ballots, to insure the security of our election process. Finally, I would include additional training of election personnel to detect improprieties or threats, maintain relationships and network with other election authorities to share threats or possible incidents, and research new technology to improve efficiency, control costs and ensure security of elections.

2) Maintaining/Updating Election Equipment

I will review the hardware and software maintenance agreements to ensure that they are still supported. I will also review new and evolving technology options to confirm that we have the most secure and efficient voting system. In the past I have updated the Recorder of Deeds Systems, combining four into one and offered the first-ever online Land Records System, so I am familiar with implementing new technology. Two requirements to maintain a secure system and a system of checks and balances include utilizing one system and paper ballots.

3) Increasing Voter Turn-Out

We have so many options to vote, from early voting to voting by mail or in-person and more, and we need to continue to grow the current programs to educate voters about these options and encourage them to vote. We have a great turnout during presidential elections, but we need to educate voters on the importance of all elections — particularly local elections, which have a great impact on our community. I would also explore the new technology of a Voter Information App that is available to educate voters and bring voting information to their cellphones or tablets. It’s a great honor to have the right to vote, and it’s important that we exercise this right.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

McPhillips: There are many fundraising events through the community groups that I am involved in, including the Visitation and Aid Society Boots and Bandanas event on October 5, the Exchange Club of Joliet Annual Spaghetti Lunch and Dinner on October 22 and the Presence St. Joseph’s Hospital Annual Gala on November 3. All of these events will help support our community and will be held in Joliet. Information is available online. I will also be hosting another fundraising event for my political campaign. You can check out my website for more information.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

McPhillips: You can contact me via my website, follow me on Facebook or email me.

Image Credit: Laurie McPhillips

This Patch article is sponsored by Laurie McPhillips.