Fight shaping up for DuPage recorder

For 24 years, Fred Bucholz worked in a DuPage County government office responsible for keeping the records of about $65 billion worth of real estate.

In these hard economic times, with technological demands and the need to protect folks from identity theft and mortgage fraud, he argues his experience is critical.

The Republican is seeking his second four-year term as recorder, but he'll have to get past an opponent who argues voters will be better served with a Democrat who offers a wealth of corporate experience.

Democrat David Meek said he became a first-time candidate after growing frustrated as a 16-year election judge with the lack of a two-party system in DuPage County, long a GOP stronghold. The 62-year-old Westmont man emphasizes his corporate experience, which includes working for four Fortune 500 companies, to owning a business consulting firm.

Meek is critical of his opponent's fundraising, which includes many donations from mortgage and title companies.

"Change can be good," Meek said. "I will be proactive and make service my top priority. I will not accept a dime from potential vendors or mortgage and title companies."

Meek can't match the incumbent's ability to raise money. He has about $4,000 compared to the $80,000 Bucholz plans to spend. Instead, Meek is going door to door and shaking hands at train stations. He's handed out most of his 36,000 brochures.

Both men are fiscal conservatives who list customer service, technology and protection against identity theft and mortgage fraud as their chief concerns.

But Bucholz, 53, of Wheaton argues voters couldn't pick a worse time to take a chance on a new guy unfamiliar with the office. Bucholz spent 20 years as the chief deputy before voters elected him as recorder four years ago during an uncontested election.

Bucholz shepherded through the automation of 7.6 million records onto the Internet, set up safeguards to protect identity and property and took a leadership position statewide regarding uniform electronic recording among Illinois' 102 counties.

His 2009 budget is lower than seven years ago.

"I know how to manage people in a tough economy," Bucholz said. "(Meek) will have to go through a learning curve, and there's a lot of new technology on the horizon."

As for his opponent's criticism of his fundraising, Bucholz said it is not a conflict of interest because his vendor business is software, not bank lenders or title companies.