HR1320 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1320 LRB098 23152 GRL 62143 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Willard R. Helander on the occasion of her retirement as Lake County Clerk on November 30, 2014 after 20 years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, Willard Helander graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor's Degree in 1974 from the University of Mississippi; she subsequently earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1977 and was initiated into the public sector in 1977, when she held a judicial clerkship for the Tennessee Civil Court of Appeals; and

WHEREAS, After moving to Illinois, working in the trust and probate field, and raising her 3 children, Willard Helander returned to the public sector in 1992 and became the founding Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Central Lake County, where she served with distinction until seeking public office; and

WHEREAS, Willard Helander was first elected as the Lake County Clerk in 1994; during her tenure, she continually challenged herself and her staff to provide superior customer service; and

WHEREAS, Willard Helander oversaw the implementation of technology and automation in the Clerk's Office, including optical scan voting, an expansion of voting options for people with disabilities, early voting, and the piloting of the first internet reporting of election results in the State of Illinois, one of only 2 counties in the State to do so in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Due to Willard Helander's pioneering leadership in the technological field, the Lake County Clerk's Office received the "Most Innovative Technology" award through the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elected Officials, and Treasurers in recognition of the County's internally-created geographic information system software, which was used during the millennial census for redistricting purposes and resulted in a savings of $500,000 to taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, Willard Helander is highly regarded in her field and is a member of multiple professional associations, including the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Elected Officials, and Treasurers, the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders, and the Joint Elected Officials Liaison Committee; she is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and is a past member of the State Board of Elections Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Willard Helander has been a vocal proponent of maintaining accuracy, fairness, and integrity in the election process; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her commitment as a public servant, Willard Helander is an active participant in her community and serves on the boards of many civic organizations, including MainStreet Libertyville, Inc., the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, Community Action Partnership, the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, Youth and Family Counseling, and the Daughters of the American Revolution; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Willard R. Helander on the occasion of her retirement and wish her continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Willard Helander as a symbol of our esteem and respect.