Henry serving as interim St. Clair County Circuit Clerk; New clerk must be named within weeks

The St. Clair County Board has one month to select a new Circuit Clerk to replace former Clerk Brendan Kelly, who left the position in December to become St. Clair County State's Attorney.

In the meantime, Chief Deputy Clerk Luann Henry has been serving as interim Circuit Clerk.

Kelly, a Democrat, was tapped to replace State's Attorney Robert Haida, a Democrat, after Haida was elected circuit judge in November. Haida ran for the seat vacated by Circuit Judge Patrick Young, a Democrat, who retired.

Kelly, 34, had previously served as a prosecutor with the St. Clair County State's Attorney's office.

During his time as clerk, Kelly instituted e-filing in the clerk's office and achieved two clean audits.

The 28-member Board, comprised by a majority of Democrats, has until Feb. 6 to appoint Kelly's replacement.

The next county board meeting is later this month.