Charles B. Pelkie Jr. Appointed as Will County Clerk

WILL COUNTY – County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant has appointed Charles B. Pelkie Jr. as Will County Clerk, serving until an elected successor is sworn in on December 2, 2024. The appointment was confirmed unanimously by the Will County Board on September 19, 2024.

“Charles Pelkie is well-qualified to serve as Will County Clerk and his appointment will ensure continuity during an important period of time for that office,” said County Executive Bertino-Tarrant. “His years of experience in county government, including six years as the Chief Deputy Clerk, have prepared him to lead the Clerk’s Office and oversee the November elections. I congratulate Clerk Pelkie on his appointment.”

Pelkie has served as the Chief of Staff and Chief Deputy Clerk in the Will County Clerk’s Office since 2018. As Chief Deputy Clerk, he has been acting as County Clerk since the resignation of Lauren Staley-Ferry on August 15. There will be a special election to fill the remaining two years of Staley-Ferry’s term during the November General Election.

As Chief of Staff and Chief Deputy Clerk, Pelkie has overseen eight Will County elections and manages the day-to-day administration of the office. He supervised the purchase and installation of a complete suite of new election equipment valued at more than $9 million, modernizing all County voting operations.

“I have been privileged for six years to serve with the finest team of dedicated public servants as the Chief Deputy/Chief of Staff for the Will County Clerk’s Office,” said Clerk Pelkie. “It’s a tremendous honor to be appointed by County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and the County Board to serve as the Will County Clerk and to lead this team through the 2024 Presidential Election. I am humbled by their confidence and grateful for their support.”

Before his tenure at the Clerk’s Office, Pelkie served as Director of the Bureau of Crime Prevention and Public Access for the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for 13 years. He began his career as a local newspaper reporter, including for The Herald-News and Pioneer Press Newspapers. He is a 27-year resident of Will County.