Rupam Dave', Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Candidate Full Name: Rupam Dave'

Office: Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Party: Democrat

Email Address: rupamforcircuitcourtclerk@gmail.com

Survey Questions (Character limit of 2,000 per response)

1. Since many people dislike jury duty and try to avoid it, should such duty be optional?

It's my belief that everyone should have the option to participate in the function of our government. I do believe that everyone should be summoned to participate in Jury Duty. If they have a legitimate reason for not being able to participate at the time then they should have the right to request to be rescheduled. In order for our judicial system to work it requires participation from a jury of our peers, which requires the participation from the public.

2. Should your office be elective or appointive?

The Circuit Court Clerks office has a very important role to play in our society. As the gateway to your legal system, the keeper of our records and the administrator of a budget in the millions of dollars, I feel that it's important that the public have a direct choice on who serves in this office.

The voters deserve a voice about who their Circuit Court Clerk's is because the actions taken by the powers that be in is office directly impact the taxpayers in how their hard earned dollars are spent.

One of the problems of our economy is that far too many jobs have been out-sourced. Therefore under the Rupam Dave' administration there be only be "for-bid" contracts on a local level, whenever possible. This helps create local jobs, support the local economy and keeps our tax dollars in Lake County.

So yes, I believe it should be an elected position.

3. What can the clerk do to make the justice system function more efficiently?

I believe the justice system will function more efficiently in Lake County with technological innovations and upgrades to the computer system within the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

It is time for the Clerk's office to catch up with the majority of Counties in Illinois so that residents don't have to take precious time off work and their attorneys' time is more efficiently spent. By not having to physically travel to the Clerk's office to pay fines, files paperwork, check case statuses, put hearings on the docket, etc. These are things that most Counties in Illinois already provided their residents. Lake County is the third largest in the State of Illinois, and collects the 2nd highest property taxes, it is time this level of service is provide to our residents.

Our priority should always be to wisely spend taxpayers' dollars. Our charter should always be to create savings for the taxpayer whenever possible.

4. What have you done- or would do- to stream operations and save taxpayer money?

In a Rupam Dave administration I will implement a plan to move the clerk's office forward through technological innovations. Time and time again technological advances have proven to save money and provide better services by making operations more efficient. There would be a direct saving to residents when they can go online to pay certain fines and obtain case status information they will be saving precious time, which would otherwise be taken from their workday. Further, allowing attorney's online access to case status and court dates translates to time and money saved to the client.

Additionally I would reinstate centralized filing and pursue e-filing.

5. What type of probation reforms would you implement?

While the probation process does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Lake County Circuit Court Clerk's office, a Rupam Dave' administration will work in concert with the probation process, so that victims and their rights are insured and protected by following all requirements including notice requirements to victims of crimes pertaining to changes in their perpetrator's status. This will be achieved by creating a victims right counter in the clerk's office so as to assist victims of crime.

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