Diane S. Shapiro
Dorothy A. Brown
In the days leading up to early voting in the Nov. 8 general election, the Daily Law Bulletin will publish responses to questionnaires sent to candidates in all contested Cook County judicial races. If a candidate did not respond to a request for an updated questionnaire for the general election, the responses provided by the same candidate during the primary election will be used. Campaign finance information comes from Illinois State Board of Elections reports. All responses will be available to subscribers and non-subscribers at chicagolawbulletin.com.
Name: Dorothy A. Brown
Age: 62
Current residence: Chicago
Current position: Cook County circuit clerk, 2000-present
Past work experience: My work experience has been in management and auditing. Clerk of the circuit court of Cook County, 2000-present; general auditor, Chicago Transit Authority, 1991-2000; senior manager, Odell Hicks & Co. (CPAs), 1984 to 1991; manager and senior auditor, First National Bank of Chicago; 1981 to 1984; auditor, Arthur Andersen & Co. (CPAs), 1977 to 1980; accountant, Commonwealth Edison Co., 1975 to 1977
Campaign funds available, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: $278,948.02
Campaign funds spent, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: $279,458.45
Education: J.D., IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1995; MBA, DePaul University, 1981; certified public accountant, 1977; B.A., Southern University, 1975
Campaign website: www.friendsofdorothybrown.org
Family: Husband, Dr. Benton T. Cook III; daughter Detris Brown
Hobbies/interests: Organizing community efforts, watching basketball and football; movies
Have you ever run for office before?
Yes. I have been elected to four terms as clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. I am seeking my fifth term. Also, I ran for city treasurer in 1999, mayor of Chicago in 2007 and president of the Cook County Board in 2010.
Why should voters support your candidacy?
I have the background and the experience needed to manage the clerk’s office of the second largest circuit court system in the United States; a multimillion-dollar entity. For 15 years, I have ensured financial accountability, strengthened customer service and implemented 21st century technology across the clerk’s office. I bring a history of accomplishment and passion to the job.
Why do you want to be clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court?
In these very serious times, especially for our criminal justice system, I want to be the clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County to ensure that the records are protected for all the citizens, not just the privileged few. I recognize that behind every court case file is a person whose fate or fortune depends on receiving fair and equitable treatment by the court system.
I have a heart for public service and want to continue providing excellent customer service, upgrading technology systems, ensuring financial accountability, improving operational efficiency and developing our employees into agents of compassion toward the users of the court system.
What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
My greatest career accomplishment so far is getting elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, then leading the office into the 21st century. Under my leadership, the clerk’s office automated the final two manual divisions, making the case management system 100 percent automated, installed an integrated cashiering and security system, implemented electronic filing for attorneys and pro ses, installed an imaging and document management system with almost 200 million images to date and implemented an intranet system for employees, just to name a few.
Also, I am proud to have led the long and complex effort to integrate communication systems between software applications used by the chief judge, clerk of the circuit court, public defender, sheriff, state’s attorney and the bureau of technology, by creating and chairing the Cook County Integrated Criminal Justice System Committee.
What qualities do you plan to bring to the office?
I plan to continue to provide the expertise from my academic and managerial experience and continue to serve the people. My best quality is my heart for service. Because of that, I treat everyone that calls or writes the office with the kind of courtesy and respect they deserve. I also find various ways to bring the services of the office to the community, such as through our Second Chance Expungement Summits, our mortgage foreclosure surplus searches, our unclaimed child support check search and the plain language expungement guide.
Name: Diane S. Shapiro
Age: 60
Current residence: Chicago
Current position: Axis/Global Delivery Systems, 2000-present
Past work experience: Speech and public speaking instructor at Triton College, 2000-2011; adjunct instructor, juvenile justice, Harper College, 2006-2007; Cook County adult probation officer/investigator, 1984-2009; Cook County sheriff’s deputy, 1979-1984; deputy Cook County recorder of deeds, 1976-1979; general manager, public relations and ring mistress, Royal Australian Circus/Festival Circus, 1979-1997.
Campaign funds available, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: $4,942.71
Campaign funds spent, July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: $2,293.54
Education: M.A., University of Illinois at Chicago; B.S. in general education, Northwestern University; 32 hours toward a doctorate in public policy analysis from the University of Illinois; certification in addictions counseling from City Colleges of Chicago.
Campaign website: CitizensForDianeShapiro.com
Family: Father, Lester (deceased); mother, Gail, nee Pitluk; two younger sisters, both attorneys.
Hobbies/interests: I don’t have time for hobbies other than learning new languages and reading, which I do a lot of. I have traveled around the world, studied history extensively and enjoy staying abreast of current events. I am an activist with an organization called ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education), a motorcycle rights organization which lobbies in Springfield and Washington, D.C., with our elected politicians on behalf of all motorcyclists and other two-wheeled vehicles. I belong to many law enforcement, civic, social and political organizations and volunteer with several organizations.
Have you ever run for office before?
I was elected as the Republican committeeman of the 46th Ward three times (2008, 2012, 2016). I ran twice for circuit court clerk of Cook County (2008, 2012). Although I did not win, I was the top Republican vote-getter both times.
Why should voters support your candidacy?
I have a long, proven track record of honorable public service to Cook County. I will comply with U.S. District Court General Orders 09-014, signed by Judge James F. Holderman on June 5, 2009, and 14-0024, signed by Judge Ruben Castillo on Oct. 24, 2014, ordering the modernization of the computerized system and institute “Rocket Docket” to expedite all court cases.
I will be fully accessible and accountable, order a complete forensic financial audit of the clerk’s office conducted by a reputable outside agency and return money to the coffers of our county by ending waste, mismanagement and fraud, instituting sound investment practices and complete transparency of office.
Why do you want to be clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court?
I worked in the courts for over 30 years, love and respect the justice system and wish to return my years of honorable service to the county. I plan to make the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office the most efficient in the nation and be an elected public servant who will restore excellent service, dignity and respect to the courts of our county for everyone, regardless of race, religion, creed, color, national origin or financial status no matter which side of the bench they appear. I will also be present in every courthouse on a rotating basis and fully accessible and accountable.
What kind of experience do you have with the Cook County court system?
I worked for over 30 years in the courts and during that time I was assigned variously to all six district courthouses and most of the police (branch) courts. I am familiar with the procedures in every type of courtroom and actually know how to do data entry in each of the “computerized” systems. One could say that I grew up in the courts, especially criminal court, since at the time of my birth my father was an assistant state’s attorney who later went into private practice as a criminal defense lawyer. Through him I became well-acquainted with the courts even before I embarked on my career in the circuit court of Cook County.
What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?
I think my greatest career accomplishment has been to be able to have devoted my life to public service and volunteerism. I go into high school driver’s education classes as director of safety and education for ABATE to teach a course called Share The Road.
Even in retirement I am continuing my work with many organizations I was involved with as an adult probation officer to keep young people in school, out of trouble with the law and pursue means by which to obtain alternative education and/or job training as well as to assist felons returning from serving time in the penitentiary with obtaining job skills, education and helping them change their lives to remain arrest-free.
What qualities do you plan to bring to the office?
I bring a fresh, unique, positive perspective based on decades of experience and altruism. I believe that an elected official should be a public servant who performs the job he or she was elected to do to the best of their abilities and aspires to be an example for others to follow. I plan to make the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office the most modern and efficient in the nation and be an elected public servant who will restore honor, dignity and respect to the courts of our county.