PEORIA COUNTY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
- Ex - Officio
Ashley joined the coroner's office in March 2024. She graduated from Iowa State University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Animal Ecology. She then served as an Animal Control Officer for the Ames Police Department in central Iowa. After moving back to Illinois, she became a 911 dispatcher for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Police Department. Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children, and their dog, April.
Brandon started with the Peoria County Coroner's Office in January of 2024. He is currently a part-time deputy coroner. He is currently a full-time Paramedic for Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois and started as an EMT for Advanced Medical Transport in June of 2019. He obtained his Paramedic Licensure in August of 2023. He is currently a volunteer firefighter/paramedic for the Akron-Princeville Fire Department. He also volunteers as a Paramedic for the Akron-Princeville Ambulance. When he isn't working he likes to read, play video/board games, and likes to volunteer.
Deputy Brandon Witt has served the Citizens of Peoria County as a Deputy Coroner since September 2012. Brandon is married and has two children and resides in Peoria County. Brandon serves on the Peoria County Healthcare Coalition. Brandon previously worked for the American Red Cross Blood Services - Heart of America Region. Brandon served as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT with Limestone Township Fire Protection District for 22 years. Brandon likes to do woodworking, fishing, and spend time with family.
Chris Watkins is a lifelong Peoria resident and an 18-year veteran of the Peoria County Sheriff's Office. He began his employment with the Peoria County Sheriff's Office in 2004 as a Corrections Officer until working up through the ranks as Patrol Deputy, Lieutenant, Director of Courthouse Security, Patrol Captain, and currently as Sheriff. Chris has also served as Vice President of the police union, and as a member of the Central Illinois Emergency Response Team, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction SWAT team in Illinois. Find more information about the Sheriff's Office.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- ZBA Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Supervisor of Assessments
The Supervisor of Assessments is the coordinating arm for all tax assessment activity for Peoria County's 88,816 parcels.
We oversee the work of local township assessors and act as a resource to these local offices, yet the township assessor has the primary responsibility for valuing property for assessment purposes.
This office is also where the Peoria County Board of Review conducts the assessment appeal process, with the Supervisor of Assessment's staff serving as the support for the Board's work.
Job Titles:
- Superintendent, Regional Office of Education
Beth Crider was elected to her first 4-year term in 2014. She was an educator in the Peoria Public Schools for more than 17 years prior to coming to the Regional Office of Education.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
The Peoria County State's Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal defendants and represents all elected county offices in civil, labor and administrative matters, including the Sheriff, Coroner, Treasurer, Clerks, County Administrator, and Peoria County Board and addresses matters of dispute related to the County's employees.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Kate has been with the coroner's office since August of 2022 after graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a bachelors in criminology and forensic science. In her spare time, Kate enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, and spending time with her cat, Oliver.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Steering Committee
- Co - Chair )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the County Board
The County Treasurer is an elected official with a four-year term. The duties of the Treasurer's office include receipt, management and disbursement of public funds, as well as the collection, management and distribution of property taxes levied by various units of local government. The investment of county funds is administered by the Treasurer's office as well. View contact information for Nicole Bjerke.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
Rachael Parker was appointed as the Peoria County Clerk on August 8, 2019. She was the 5th district County Board member since first being elected in 2010 prior to being appointed County Clerk. Rachael had also served on the Peoria Public Schools board for 3.5 years, served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Chillicothe, and also runs a small business, Sweet Cakes by Rachael.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee
The Circuit Clerk is an elected official with a four-year term. Robert Spears as the Clerk, is the keeper of both the seal of the circuit court and the court records, including files and exhibits. The Clerk's Office process criminal and juvenile delinquency cases, ordinance, conservation and traffic violation cases and civil cases. In addition, the Office summons citizens to jury duty, provides clerks for the courtrooms, and collects fines, costs and fees.
Sharon K. Williams is a lifelong resident of the Peoria area. She was first elected to the County Board in 2012. Sharon is the Editor/Business Manager of The Labor Paper since 1994.
Sharon graduated from Woodruff High School, attended Illinois Central College, and in 1993 received her B.S. in Public Relations with a minor in Business Administration from Illinois State University. She has also graduated from the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership (IWIL), the Peoria Chamber of Commerce's legislative program, and the NACO high-performance leadership training program.
Sharon serves on the Board of Directors for Wildlife Prairie Park and is currently the Vice President for Rebuilding Together Peoria. She has volunteered for the Heart of Illinois United Way, where she is a pillar society member. As an hour chair for the OSF Children's Hospital radiothon, she has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the organization. She also is a founding member of Union Sisters of Central Illinois, a group of women who work in non-traditional careers. These women use their construction skills on volunteer projects in the community, including Rebuilding Together Peoria and the OSF Garden of Hope.
Sharon has received honors as a 2001 class of 40 Leaders under Forty from Central Illinois Business Publishers, Labor volunteer award through the HOI United Way, and served as the 2021 Labor Day Parade grand marshal.
Job Titles:
- Victim Service Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Steering Committee
- Member of the Workgroup
- Co - Chair )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Steering Committee