DuPage County voters elect Democrat Jean Kaczmarek as clerk

DuPage County voters have elected a Democrat as county clerk in a midterm election Nov. 6 that saw a slew of Democratic victories across the county.

Glen Ellyn resident Jean Kaczmarek beat Republican County Clerk Paul Hinds of Villa Park, garnering about 52.1 percent of the vote, or 178,730 votes, to Hinds' about 47.9 percent, or 164,234 votes, according to unofficial election results.

Incumbent DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, a Republican from Elmhurst, retained his seat amid a challenge from Democrat Lynn LaPlante.

Cronin garnered 51.57 percent of the vote, or 177,997 votes, while LaPlante received 48.43 percent, or 167,177 votes, preliminary numbers show.

In the race to replace outgoing DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba, Republican James Mendrick of Woodridge pulled ahead, claiming about 51.3 percent of the vote, or 175,864 votes, according to initial poll returns. Democrat Greg Whalen of Clarendon Hills received about 48.7 percent of the vote, or 167,114 votes.

Republican Treasurer Gwen Henry was uncontested in the election.