The DuPage County Board voted Tuesday, Aug. 11 to reject a proposal that would have asked November voters whether to abolish the elected coroner's office and replace it with an appointed medical examiner.

The measure failed 11-6 along party lines, with all 11 Democratic board members voting against it and all six Republicans voting in favor, the Daily Herald reported. No one crossed party lines.

The result means Downers Grove, Woodridge, Westmont and other DuPage County voters will not see a coroner question on the Nov. 3 ballot. The elected coroner's office, currently held by Democrat Judith Lukas, will remain in place at least through the 2028 election cycle.

What Republicans proposed

Republican board member Jim Zay of Carol Stream pushed the referendum, which would have created a medical examiner position appointed by the county board chair with consent of the full board.

Republicans cited remarks Lukas made at a July committee meeting, where she defended a request for an additional employee by saying her office was not thorough enough in its investigations. They also pointed to a memo describing turnover, low morale and a claim that Lukas brought her untrained dog into the office.

Why Democrats voted no

County Board Chair Deborah Conroy argued the switch could cost taxpayers more, not less.

"I'm pretty sure that this will not save us any money … I think it could cost us more money," Conroy said at the Aug. 11 meeting.

DuPage County already employs a full-time medical examiner on staff to conduct autopsies. Cook County is the only Illinois county with an appointed medical examiner; all 101 others have elected coroners.

Board member Dawn DeSart, a Democrat from Aurora, said putting the question on the November ballot with no explanation was not transparent government. Several Democratic members noted that voters unhappy with Lukas can weigh in at the 2028 election.

Lukas responds

Lukas confirmed to the Daily Herald on Thursday, Aug. 13 that she brought her puppy to work, saying the dog was kept away from employees and the public. She declined to say whether she had been previously told not to bring the dog to work.

Lukas said she asked the county's human resources department to launch a full independent investigation into the complaint.

The coroner question appears dead for the November ballot. Voters who want to weigh in on the office will next have the chance in 2028, when the coroner's seat is up for election.