Deputy Clerk Appointed in Avon Township

Avon Township has a new deputy clerk to assist Township Supervisor Lisa Rusch with various duties until a new township clerk can be elected in April.

Rusch, following a township board vote to allow her to appoint a deputy clerk, opted to appoint Cathy deGroh, who is seeking a township trustee seat with the Avon Strong party. Meanwhile, Rusch is running for township supervisor with an opposing party, Avon Action. Two parties and one independent slate have filed to run for Avon Township elected positions.

Appointing someone from an opposing party, Rusch said, shows people that the two sides can work together.

"This should be people working together for the good of the people," said Rusch.

The appointment surprised deGroh, who hadn't previously expressed an interest in serving as the deputy township clerk.

"I was a little shell-shocked, but excited," said deGroh, who served on the Grayslake Library Board for nine years.

The township board voted Monday night to give Rusch the authority to appoint a deputy clerk. It's not an official position—deGroh is not filling an official unexpired term—and deGroh will mainly serve as an assistant to Rusch.

Rusch previously served as the township clerk but was moved to the supervisor role after former township supervisor Sam Yingling was elected as the state representative for the 62nd District in November 2012.

Rusch said there are a lot of things that need to be done between now and the election of a new township clerk in April.

"I just need some help," she said.

And deGroh is happy to provide that help.

"I'll do whatever Lisa sees fit for me to do," she said. "I'm there to help her out. I consider it public service work."