Peoria County: Meet Your Peoria County Elected Officials

Robert Spears, Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk is an elected official with a four-year term. The Clerk is the keeper of both the seal of the circuit court and the court records, including files and exhibits. The Clerk's Office process criminal and juvenile delinquency cases, ordinance, conservation and traffic violation cases and civil cases. In addition, the Office summons citizens to jury duty, provides clerks for the courtrooms and collects fines, costs and fees.

R. Steve Sonnemaker, County Clerk

Steve Sonnemaker served as the Peoria County Auditor for many years and was elected to the County Clerk's Office in Novermber of 2006. The County Clerk provides a variety of essential services: Sonnemaker serves as the Election Authority administering elections throughout Peoria County, processes and keeps public filings and vital records, and issues Marriage and other licenses. The County Clerk also prepares the real estate tax bills, collects all delinquent taxes and is keeper of the Board agenda and minutes.

Johnna Ingersoll, County Coroner

The County Coroner is an elected official with a four-year term. The Coroner has the responsibility of investigating sudden, unusual and traumatic deaths. It is also the responsibility of the Coroner to assure the body is examined, identified, and if necessary, autopsied. In cases of unnatural or questionable death, the Coroner summons a jury and conducts an inquest to determine the manner of death.

Sheriff Michael D. McCoy

The fifty-fifth Sheriff of Peoria County, Sheriff Michael D. McCoy is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and began his law enforcement career in Beardstown, Illinois. In 1985, he went to work in the private sector, serving as Corporate Director of Safety and Security for Fleming Packaging, a 200 million dollar per year Corporation with diverse interests in Illinois and across the United States. In 1994, Sheriff McCoy returned to the Peoria County Sheriff's Office as Chief Deputy Sheriff, and was sworn in as Sheriff on June 10, 2002.

Kevin Lyons, Peoria County State's Attorney

Kevin Lyons was elected in 1988, and is serving his fourth four-year term as the Peoria County State's Attorney. His office prosecutes persons accused of crimes and he serves as the legal advisor and representative to the elected officials of the County as well as the Peoria County Board. State's Attorney Lyons was born in Peoria and returned from college and law school in 1981 to engage in the private practice of law and serve as an assistant public defender. He is a former president of the Illinois State's Attorney's Association and currently serves as the Illinois representative on the governing board of the National District Attorney's Association.

Edward "Tripp" O'Connor, County Treasurer

The County Treasurer is an elected official with a four year term. The duties of the Treasurer's Office include receipt, management and disbursement of public funds, as well as collection, management and distribution of property taxes levied by various units of local government.

Brad Horton, Recorder of Deeds

Brad Horton took office in December of 2000. He was an elected Township Official for five terms, and served on the Statewide Board of Directors of the Township Officials of Illinois for 13 years. Brad is a Past President of both the Kiwanis Club of Peoria and the Peoria County Township Officials. As the County Recorder of Deeds, Brad is responsible for the recording, scanning and microfilming of any legally executed document, and maintaining official records that have been accumulated since 1825.

Gerald M. Brookhart, Ed.D., Peoria County Regional Office of Education Superintendent

Carol VanWinkle, County Auditor

The County Auditor is an elected official and serves a four-year term. VanWinkle was appointed to complete an unexpired term of office. This Office verifies and audits all claims against the County and recommends payment or rejection of all invoices. The Auditor is responsible for maintaining various data, such as fiscal and financial operations of the County, audit of receipts and property, and Internal Audits. The Auditor serves as the purchasing agent for all County offices. A life-long resident of the Peoria area and current and past President of the S-W Kiwanis Club of Peoria, IL, the incumbent is a retiree from Peoria County with 32 years of service.