60 poll workers receive accolades for precinct performance
Courtney Greve, 312.603.0931, courtney.greve@cookcountyil.gov
For Immediate Release: Oct. 20, 2011
Clerk David Orr honored outstanding suburban Cook County election judges Wednesday at the fifth annual Judge Recognition Ceremony.
Orr thanked the poll workers for their excellent precinct performance, many of whom make election work a family affair.
“Passing down the election judge tradition from mother to daughter, and from generation to generation, is like passing down the importance of democracy,” Orr said. “Thank you for making democracy a central value in your families.”
As matriarch of her family, 81-year-old Margaret McDannel teaches her children and grandchildren the importance of serving their community each election. Forty-seven years ago, McDannel was asked to fill in at her Park Forest precinct and she has been an election judge ever since.
"I now have four other members of my family (working as election judges, including) two grandsons that are young,” she said. “One just turned old enough to vote, but now he’s an election judge.”
Watch a video of the event or see more photos in our online album.
Sixty suburban election judges—two from each township—were selected. (See full list below.) The judges were nominated by a Clerk's office staff member, township committeemen, township supervisors or other election judges.
The winning judges range in age from 21 to 85, and came from all corners of suburban Cook County in spite of the frigid weather. Many of them reflected on their years as election judges:
- Milton Langer, of Morton Grove, has worked every election for 19 years. "It gives you a good sense of your community," said Langer, 81. "It gives you a chance to meet your neighbors, which we don’t get to do as often anymore."
- John Marrs, 80, of Schaumburg, began working as an election judge in 1981. “I wanted to be a part of something I felt was important," he said. “You get to know the other judges and regardless of party, you become good friends.”
- Gregory Lombardi, of Palos Park, began working as an election judge 22 years ago. "Working in the precinct that I live in, I get to see all my neighbors," said Lombardi, 61. “I really think that people should get involved in the political process any way they can.”
- Adam Pratt, 28, worked as an election judge for the first time in 2006. "It's an interesting experience. You get to see how things work firsthand," said Pratt, of Hoffman Estates.
- Warren Cuplin, 78, of Glenview, believes in the importance of voting and hopes that being an election judge raises the awareness of those around him. “The turnout is so low, that’s the biggest problem,” he said. “When you think of some of the foreign countries, (turnout there is) 80 to 90 percent. Gee, I think people have to get involved.”
- Sean Siegel, 36, was still a teenager when he first served as an election judge in 1992. “To know what it is that we do behind the scenes is a great learning experience,” said Siegel, of Palatine.
Master of Ceremonies Vince Gerasole, a CBS 2 Chicago reporter, applauded the election judges for their dedication and excellence.
“You’re here because you’ve hit those high notes over and over again on Election Day,” Gerasole said. “Elections would not be possible without you.”
The backbone of the Cook County Clerk’s election operation, nearly 10,000 election judges work a 16-hour shift on Election Day starting at 5 a.m. Judges are responsible for setting up the polling place and election equipment, assisting voters when asked, and securing votes at the end of the night. All judges, even veteran participants, attend regular trainings to learn new procedures and techniques.
The 2011 Election Judge Recognition honorees pose for a photo Wednesday. Front row (from left): Violeta Gerue, Eleanor C. Braun, Karen Samuel, Adam Pratt, Jacqueline Thomas, Maureen Claps. Second row: Sharon Kissane, Gladys Hall, Gustavo Navarrete, Gertrude Washington, Sandra Bibbs, Kenneth Stobart, John Marrs. Third row: Robert Rokos, Clerk David Orr, CBS 2’s Vince Gerasole, Margaret McDannel, Milton Langer. Fourth row: Sean Siegel, Warren Cuplin, Gregory Lombardi, David A. Lee, Jason Benton, Robert Senne
Registered voters who want to work the March 20, 2011 Presidential Primary can apply online.
Honorees by Township
Barrington: Sharon F. Kissane, Paige K. Kaehler
Berwyn: Graciela Perez, Joy R. Lippert
Bloom: Patricia A. Zimmerle, Margaret E. McDannel
Bremen: Kimberly Phillips, Sandra L. Bibbs
Calumet: Dennis J. Leason, Gertrude M. Washington
Cicero: Bambi Kralka, Gustavo Navarrete
Elk Grove: John H. Marrs, David A. Lee
Evanston: John B. Searles, Diane Meyers
Hanover: Silvia J. Acevedo, Adam Pratt
Lemont: Robert W. Herb, Anne M. Desmond
Leyden: Violeta R. Gerue, Katherine Cioch
Lyons: Joan A. Waltz, Joyce C. Guerra
Maine: Milton F. Langer, Eleanor C. Braun
New Trier: Adrienne L. Bairstow, Kimberly A. Ciba
Niles: Robert Rohde, Amy Beth Curry
Northfield: Warren D. Cuplin, Maureen Claps
Norwood Park: Gerald F. Hintz, Stacey E. Barrios
Oak Park: Christine A. Majkrzak, Marian E. Menges
Orland: Herbert R. Mehlan, Mary T. Curry
Palatine: Sean P. Siegel, Delano Carter-Houston
Palos: Laurie A. Stumpf, Linda A. House
Proviso: Joyce Moorehead, Jacqueline Thomas
Rich: Davida M. Salamon, Robert W. Graves
River Forest: Ken Benson, Carol A. Flank
Riverside: Kenneth E. Stobart, Carol S. Creadon
Schaumburg: Mark T. McPherson, Myrna Frankel
Stickney: Karen M. Irizarry, Robert C. Senne
Thornton: Dana Collins, Gladys M. Hall
Wheeling: Robert G. Rokos, Michael P. Skyba
Worth: Christine V. Sansone, Edith A. Shishkoff
Polling Place Administrators
Rev. Peter Cyscon/Lynn Nolan, St. Fabian Church, Bridgeview
Jan Boersma, Faith Christian Reform Church, Tinley Park
Township Coordinators
Carla Sutker, Skokie
Cynthia Olik, Burbank
Early Voting Judges
Gregory Lombardi, Palos Park
Marjorie Skora, Palatine
Jason Benton, Olympia Fields
Helen Pettway, Des Plaines
Nursing Home Judges
Robert Aument, Lemont
Karen Samuel, Maywood