The Farmer's Almanac predicted that the winter of 2013-2014 would be "biting, bitterly and piercing" and that Illinois would be "biting cold and snowy." Unfortunately, that forecast proved correct. Too correct.
I'm wondering if another prediction will come true: The current DuPage County Clerk will retire early to allow his deputy to be the incumbent for the November 2014 election.
This forecast isn't based on sunspots and magnetic storms of the surface of the sun. Instead, it's based on the unpublished, trusty political playbook of DuPage County.
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Think of the political advantage of tax-paid name recognition in news quotes, on the county webpage and on letterhead. Think of the photos. And, think of the signage -- every person entering the 421 County Farm Road building would be behold his name, just as drivers were bombarded with "Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" signs on the Illinois tollway.
Instead of the people, one guy would get to decide who the next county clerk should be. We could just skip the election.
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There's little incentive for the County Clerk to hang around. He's been in that department since 1965 and was elected for the first of seven terms in 1986. He's qualified to receive 80% pension on his $142,000 salary – by far the highest salary of any county clerk in Illinois. He'll also receive pension sweeteners on two additional government boards he currently sits on totaling $13,500. Will he receive an additional pension for those 21 years prior to winning office?
He'll get by.
The excuses for such an early retirement usually fall within two categories -- health issues and the desire to spend more time with family -- both sudden and both too heart-wrenching to question, let alone attack.
By the way, the County Clerk also serves as the chairman of his deputy's political campaign.
