The Champaign County Coroner is an elected representative who issues death certificates, cremation permits, and investigates all deaths that occur without a licensed physician present. This includes all “traumatic” deaths like gunshots and overdoses. The coroner is responsible for supervising staff who are doing investigations and autopsies. Additionally, the coroner’s responsibilities include “confer[ing] with officials of public health and law enforcement agencies to co-ordinate inter-departmental activities.” There is a fairly lengthy list of reasons to contact the coroner available on the office’s website.
The coroner is also deputized to perform all the same duties as the sheriff; in the case that the sheriff is unable to perform his duties, the coroner assumes the position.
The coroner is not required to have any experience in medicine or public health.
Democrat Chaundra Bishop is running against incumbent Republican Duane Northrup.
Bishop is a public health professional and educator who holds a Master’s in Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. She is committed to working to “demystify” the office of the coroner, by expanding the educational and public-facing components of the office and modernizing the office to make it more transparent and accessible to the public.
From our interview with Bishop:
Especially in these times, this job requires someone who is simply determined to help people live and thrive; which is why with my background and experience, I bring a unique vision and perspective to the role of coroner. Your coroner shouldn’t just determine the cause of death, they should proactively work to help prevent it.
You can read her questionnaire with the News-Gazette here.
Northrup has served in the coroner’s office for nearly 20 years, first as Deputy Coroner and then as Coroner (elected in 2004). His platform is centered on his experience in the position and outlining his accomplishments as Coroner since 2004. Based on public comments, he does not believe that any additional modernization needs to happen in the office.
From his questionnaire with the News-Gazette:
I hold myself and my staff to the highest standards and I strive to provide a level of professionalism, dedication and compassion every family deserves after experiencing the sudden, unexpected, or traumatic death of a loved one. In a perfect world, the outcome of the coroner’s investigation would always be what the family hoped for. There would be no homicide victims, no accidental motor vehicle crashes nor drug overdoses and suicide would not be a category on death certificates.
Here is their recent Candidate Forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters, NAACP of Champaign County, the News-Gazette, and WILL.
Top photos from (l) Chaundra for Champaign County Coroner Facebook page, and (r) Coroner Dwyane Northrup Facebook page.
