(Editor's note: This article has been updated to include comments from Tom McRae and Steve Adler)
With current Madison County Circuit Clerk Tom McRae set to retire, his son Patrick McRae, of East Alton, and Stephen J. Adler, of Alton, will compete for the Republican nomination for Circuit Clerk in the March primary election.
No Democrat candidates submitted petitions to pursue the office in 2024.
Tom McRae was elected Circuit Clerk over Democrat opponent Amy Gabriel by a nine-point margin in 2020, flipping the seat that had previously been occupied by Democrat Mark Von Nida since 2012.
Prior to his election, Tom McRae served as a Madison County Board member.
"It is an honor to serve as Madison County Circuit Clerk and it was a very difficult decision to ultimately decide against seeking another term. It was especially difficult because I really enjoy the job and the staff that I'm fortunate enough to work with," Tom McRae said.
"The reality is that I will be 64 years old when my term ends next year and 68 at the end of the next term should I be re-elected. Although I love the job, it is very demanding with numerous stakeholders that need attention. The taxpayers deserve to have a person that is fully committed to running the office on a day-to-day basis with the vigor and enthusiasm the job requires. After much thought, I decided that it's time to turn it over to a younger person who has the leadership experience and energy required to be successful," he added. "I do plan to work every day in the last year of my term to make the office the very best Circuit Clerk's office in the state of Illinois. When I leave office next year, I'm not sure that I will use the word "retire" but I am at the time in my life that I want the flexibility to travel more with my wife and our friends, spend more time spoiling our grandchildren and playing golf with my older brothers."
"I want to thank the voters of Madison County who allowed me to serve as Circuit Clerk. It has been the privilege of a lifetime," he continued.
Tom McRae's son, who currently serves as Chief Deputy Treasurer under Chris Slusser, now seeks to step into his father’s role.
“While I’ve paved my own way, both in my career and in the political spectrum, I have been fortunate to have my dad as a great mentor,” Patrick McRae told the Record. “After serving a full term of four years, he has decided not to seek re-election to enjoy retirement. I’d like the opportunity to continue the tradition of great leadership in the Circuit Clerk’s Office.”
Patrick McRae said he is running for the position with a “conservative vision of efficiency in government, lower taxes, and supporting our constitution …”
“It’s important to have a Circuit Clerk with the experience necessary to run an office of nearly 80 employees,” he said. “I feel well prepared to take on the challenges based on my leadership experience in both the public and private sector. As Circuit Clerk I will be [an] ally to law enforcement and will work tirelessly to improve services for all those who utilize the courthouse.”
“After discussions with my wife, Republican elected officials, and leaders within the party- I felt that the timing was right, as I have received overwhelming support for my candidacy. On Monday I filed petitions for nomination with nearly 1000 signatures from voters across Madison County. I’m humbled to have the support of so many people this early in the campaign,” he added.
Adler, who previously served as Deputy Administrator under County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler, said that if he is elected, he plans to "focus on a primary mission of serving the Judges of the Third Judicial Circuit, and facilitating taxpayer access to the courts. Those are the reasons the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s office exists."
"I propose that we continue to invest available resources in preserving the historical records of the Circuit Court, and digitizing or purging the balance of those records in compliance with the Illinois Local Government Records Act with the approval of the Chief Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit," Adler said. "I also propose to work with our elected representatives to bring whatever aspects of voluntary jury duties to Madison County that can be mustered legally. There are constitutional issues that preclude a voluntary jury service for most juries; however, other juries, such as Grand Juries or Coroner’s Inquest juries may be able to utilize voluntary citizens paid on a per diem basis to take the place of taxpayers summoned to appear."
Adler served on the Madison County Board for 12 years before he was appointed by Prenzler to lead the Metro East Sanitary District (MESD). When Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation in 2019 taking control of the MESD, Adler returned to Prenzler’s administration to help manage the county’s COVID-19 response and then served as deputy administrator.
Adler was allegedly placed on administrative leave in 2021 due to an undisclosed personnel matter.
Prenzler and Slusser are competing for the Republican nomination for Madison County Board Chairman in the primary election.
No Democrat candidates submitted petitions for the position.
Voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on both contested races during the primary election on March 19.