Peoria County Board member Rachael Parker is the nominee to fill the vacant Peoria County Clerk's position.
Parker was first elected to the county board in 2010. She will replace R. Steve Sonnemaker, a Democrat who died on June 14. Sonnemaker was re-elected without opposition in 2018.
Parker said she will serve until a special election is held in 2020 to fill the last two years of Sonnemaker's term. She does not plan to run for the seat.
“I am willing to serve out the remaining term with no intentions of running for the seat in the 2020 election. My prayer is to make this transition as smooth as possible creating a level playing field for those individuals that have that desire to run for this office," she said in a prepared statement.
Parker currently represents County Board District 5, which includes parts of Peoria's East and Central Bluffs. She would need to resign from that seat to serve as county clerk.
Parker owns Sweet Cakes by Rachael, a bakery. She also has worked in economic development in Peoria and Chillicothe.
The board is set to vote on confirming her nomination on Thursday.
