HR1320LRB098 23152 GRL 62143 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Willard R.
4Helander on the occasion of her retirement as Lake County Clerk
5on November 30, 2014 after 20 years of dedicated service; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Willard Helander graduated with honors, earning a
7Bachelor's Degree in 1974 from the University of Mississippi;
8she subsequently earned a Juris Doctor from the University of
9Tennessee College of Law in 1977 and was initiated into the
10public sector in 1977, when she held a judicial clerkship for
11the Tennessee Civil Court of Appeals; and
 
12    WHEREAS, After moving to Illinois, working in the trust and
13probate field, and raising her 3 children, Willard Helander
14returned to the public sector in 1992 and became the founding
15Executive Director of the Transportation Management
16Association of Central Lake County, where she served with
17distinction until seeking public office; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Willard Helander was first elected as the Lake
19County Clerk in 1994; during her tenure, she continually
20challenged herself and her staff to provide superior customer
21service; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Willard Helander oversaw the implementation of
2technology and automation in the Clerk's Office, including
3optical scan voting, an expansion of voting options for people
4with disabilities, early voting, and the piloting of the first
5internet reporting of election results in the State of
6Illinois, one of only 2 counties in the State to do so in 1996;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Due to Willard Helander's pioneering leadership
9in the technological field, the Lake County Clerk's Office
10received the "Most Innovative Technology" award through the
11International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elected
12Officials, and Treasurers in recognition of the County's
13internally-created geographic information system software,
14which was used during the millennial census for redistricting
15purposes and resulted in a savings of $500,000 to taxpayers;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Willard Helander is highly regarded in her field
18and is a member of multiple professional associations,
19including the International Association of Clerks, Recorders,
20Elected Officials, and Treasurers, the Illinois Association of
21County Clerks and Recorders, and the Joint Elected Officials
22Liaison Committee; she is also a member of the Illinois State
23Bar Association and is a past member of the State Board of
24Elections Advisory Committee; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Willard Helander has been a vocal proponent of
2maintaining accuracy, fairness, and integrity in the election
3process; and
 
4    WHEREAS, In addition to her commitment as a public servant,
5Willard Helander is an active participant in her community and
6serves on the boards of many civic organizations, including
7MainStreet Libertyville, Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of Lake
8County, Community Action Partnership, the Salvation Army Adult
9Rehabilitation Center, Youth and Family Counseling, and the
10Daughters of the American Revolution; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
13we congratulate Willard R. Helander on the occasion of her
14retirement and wish her continued success and happiness in the
15future; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to Willard Helander as a symbol of our esteem and
18respect.