Dixon to be new St. Clair County Circuit Clerk, pending approval Monday

Assistant State's Attorney Kahalah Dixon will become St. Clair County's new circuit clerk pending a county board vote Monday night.

St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern announced Dixon's nomination Thursday via press release.

Dixon succeeds Brendan Kelly who is now St. Clair County state's attorney.

Kelly, a Democrat, succeeded former St. Clair State's Attorney Robert Haida, to the post after Haida won a seat as a St. Clair County circuit judge last year.

Dixon will serve the remainder of Kelly's term.

"I hope to build on the work of my predecessor in bringing new technology and greater openness to our court system," Dixon said in the release. "I will look for opportunities to make our court system more transparent."

Kern noted Dixon's background as an attorney and called her work "impressive," in Thursday's release.

"She is the kind of bright, young professional we need in government," Kern said in the release. "With her experience and education, I am confident she will continue to modernize and improve this important public office."

Dixon grew up in East St. Louis.

She holds degrees from the University of Illinois and Indiana University School of Law.

Before joining the state's attorney's office, Dixon worked as a public defender in Indianapolis.

Dixon, now of Fairview Heights, has one son. Her husband is deceased.