Charles B. Pelkie Jr.
Courtesy of Will County

The Will County Board on Thursday approved Charles B. Pelkie Jr.’s appointment as the Will County clerk.

Pelkie had been serving as acting clerk since Lauren O’Hara, formerly named Lauren Staley Ferry, left the position Aug. 15 to become city clerk in Joliet.

The appointment means Pelkie will stay in the position through the November election and until the newly elected county clerk takes office Dec. 2.

“Charles Pelkie is well-qualified to serve as Will County Clerk and his appointment will ensure continuity during an important period of time for that office,” County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant said in a news release announcing the appointment.

“His years of experience in county government, including six years as the chief deputy clerk, have prepared him to lead the clerk’s office and oversee the November elections,” Bertino-Tarrant said.

Bertino-Tarrant made the appointment, and the county board unanimously approved it.

O’Hara’s departure mid-term put the county clerk position on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election.

County board member Annette Parker, a Republican from Crest Hill, faces Democrat Michelle Stiff, president of the Joliet Township High School Board, in the election for county clerk.

Pelkie has been chief of staff and chief deputy clerk in the county clerk’s office since 2018.