Coroner candidates focus on incumbent in Kane debate
By Linda Girardi For The Beacon-News January 26, 2012 12:12PM
Kane County coroner candidate Rob Russell discusses his qualifications for the office during a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, in St. Charles. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: March 1, 2012 8:13AM
Much of this week’s debate between the two Republican candidates for Kane County coroner focused on incumbent Coroner Chuck West.
Physician and infectious diseases specialist Robert Tiballi of Elgin and DuPage County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rob Russell of South Elgin squared-off on the stage of the Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles.
In his opening statements, Tiballi said he called out “unprofessional and unethical practices” in the Kane coroner’s office when he ran for the post eight years ago. Since that time, Coroner Chuck West has been charged with criminal official misconduct, and has been sued by a coroner’s office worker who alleges discrimination.
“Today, (the coroner) stands under a multiple felony indictment and awaits trial,” Tiballi said.
“As I asked when he was first indicted two years ago, I call on him to resign immediately.
Tiballi said his medical license sets him apart from Russell.
“I am the only licensed doctor in the race for coroner. I am a trained medical investigator and have investigated tens of thousands of complicated medical cases in my career,” he said.
Tiballi said he founded an infectious diseases group in 1996 where he supervises more people than work in the coroner’s office.
Russell said he has worked in the DuPage County sheriff’s office 20 years.
“Illinois statute clearly states the coroner is a peace officer with the same powers of the sheriff whose job is to investigate death. I am an Illinois certified peace officer who has investigated several deaths on the scene,” Russell said.
“Ninety percent of the coroners in Illinois are not in the medical field,” Russell added.
In answering questions from the audience, Russell said his vision for the office is to implement best practices based national standards and accreditation.
“The only way to determine if monies have been properly spent is to do an accreditation audit for the entire office,” he said.
“I know one place (West) is not spending his money is the morgue — the morgue is in terrible shape and is not a place I would want to bring my family members if they tragically passed away.”
Tiballi said he did not believe that “spending money to have outside consultants come in and do an accreditation audit is necessary when someone like me is actually in the administration of hospitals and has done audits.”
He said he would review every case that comes in the coroner’s office and limit the number of coroner’s inquests, which he said are not much more than “a rubber stamp.”
“Nobody can sit up here and tell you they can solve the office’s problems by themselves,” Russell said.
“... An accreditation audit through the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners cost $250. I want to make sure we are doing things in Kane County the way they are supposed to be done procedurally; victims should be treated properly,” Russell said.
Tiballi charged that Russell “has had opportunities to call on the coroner to resign and he won’t do it.”
“Calling for Chuck West to retire and leave the office, if it would do some good, I would absolutely call upon it,” Russell said. “But I believe in the justice system — that is where he will find his demise.”
West is not seeking re-election.
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