Meet the Candidates

Candidate for circuit clerk Bethany Rademaker position statement

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[February 26, 2020]  I am Bethany Rademaker, Logan County native, Logan County proud. I want to continue in public service to this community.

My education and experience provide a solid foundation for the work I will do as a county official.

I was born in Champaign, IL adopted at three days old by Bob and Mary Ann Rea. I was brought home to Lincoln to join my sister Hannah and have lived in Lincoln since.

I attended Lincoln Community High School. Upon graduation I enrolled at Lincoln Christian University where I earned both my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and my Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

While going to college full time I was also working full time at the Logan County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. Sally Litterly-Turner hired me as a member of her staff and I will forever be grateful to her because that experience provided me the opportunity to learn and to love public service.



I was offered an opportunity by Dave Bender, then President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, where I have been Director of Events and Accounts Payable for the last five years. This job has given me exposure to the private sector business world. At ACEC, I administer the annual budget of more than a million dollars and coordinate all continuing educational opportunities for the engineers and their staff who are members of our association. We serve over 220 engineering firms with more 11,000 employees statewide.

I find great satisfaction and reward in public service. I am involved in a number of service organizations, including: Board Member of the Logan County Professionals Network, Board Member of Lincoln Emblem Club, Media Director for Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, Director of the Logan County Fair Queen Competition, Volunteer for Relay for Life, Group Fitness Instructor in Lincoln and in Mt. Pulaski, and Lifelong Member of Lincoln Christian Church, where I volunteer for Vacation Bible School and Nursery.

Responses to posed questions:

What strengths would you bring to the office?

My biggest strengths flow from who I am; these are leadership, dedication and experience.

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Leadership allows me to take initiative—to humble myself, step back, assess internal and external responsibilities and create a plan for the future.

Dedication is what I can always promise. I will always put my best foot forward for the county and for the office. I will attend continual education courses and I will implement rules of the Illinois Supreme Court with the goal to better the office as a whole.

Experience—I worked in a county office for five years and in the private sector for another five years. In both jobs I worked in administration by inputting data, maintaining records, collecting monies owed, preparing and reviewing a budget of over a million dollars annually.

How would you keep the Circuit Clerk's Office the same or what changes would you make for greater efficiency, less costs, better service?

I have great interest in the ongoing Electronic Filing Initiative and the Electronic Access to Court Records project. These are two of the most significant initiatives the Illinois Court system has undertaken in decades. I find it energizing to have the opportunity to be a part of the movement to enhance accessibility of court records.

I will also conduct a strategic planning process in the Circuit Clerk’s office to plan and to budget for the future and to prepare the office for challenges to come. This will involve a threats and weaknesses assessment, exploration of the current policies and procedures, and evaluation of how we can better strategize for the future.

I want to use my skills and experience to give back to the people of this county who have been so good to my family and me. My husband, Gary, and our two children Lillian (age 4) and Barrett (age 2), and I love this community. We frequently participate in church, school and local activities here. I am ready to serve!

A special thank you to the other candidates for their collaborative spirit and friendship along this journey.

[Text from file received]

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