Updated: Andrea Lynn Chasteen Slightly Ahead in Circtuit Clerk Race

Democrat Andrea Lynn Chasteen held a lead over Republican Marlene Carlson Tuesday in what turned out to be a close race for the vacant Will County Circuit Clerk seat.

Chasteen managed to snare 142,704 votes to Carlson's 138,751. A canvass of votes must still be completed, absentee ballots postmarked by midnight, Nov. 8 have to be counted, and provisional and grace period ballots still need to be added up.

The results will not be made official until Nov. 29.

Chasteen and Carlson are running to replace Pamela McGuire, who decided against pursuing a sixth term in office. Each Will County Circuit Clerk serves a four-year term and is tasked with responsibilities established by state statute, the Illinois Supreme Court and the local rules of the 12th Judicial Circuit. The clerk serves as the court’s administrative arm, with the primary function of maintaining all county court records and handling and distributing financial documents.

Carlson is a New Lenox resident and small business owner who has spent nearly 20 years working in the private sector as a technology leader for Fortune 500 companies. She previously ran against McGuire for the Will County Circuit Clerk seat in 2012.

Her campaign website lists professional experience including work in real estate, customer service and support, technology and operations and management.

“I am certain that I have the experience and the will power to raise the sufficient funds, to manage an effective campaign, and win this office …” Carlson said, in her candidacy announcement. “ … If you’ve ever dealt with our Will County Circuit Clerk’s Office you will discover, as I have, that we suffer from serious overcrowding and over budgeting problems due to antiquated computer systems and inadequate process management. (It) needs someone with experience to step up and lead in order to make these things better.”

Carlson has identified her priorities as expanding and improving the county’s court services, using technology to create “around-the-clock” information access via a well-built website, modernizing courts without raising taxes and maintaining fiscal accountability.

Photos courtesy of campaign Facebook pages for Andrea Lynn Chasteen (left) and Marlene Carlson (right).