Republican Joe Kuensting has announced his candidacy for the office of Cole County public administrator.
The election for that office will take place next year.
"It's my first election and I have a compassion and dedication for the individuals who are represented under this office," Kuensting said. "I've spent my career with the Department of Mental Health and the state auditor's office working in the area of helping and assisting people with mental illness and developmental disabilities."
Kuensting said his main function was to find funding for these residents to assist them in a productive life.
"The department of mental health doesn't put them in facilities anymore, but in community-based settings," he said. "This is where public administrators come in because they deal with those who have no one to take care of them. I know the caseload will continue to grow."
Kuensting said he's been talking to residents about the upcoming election and has found most don't know what the office does.
The public administrator is appointed by the Circuit Court of Cole County through a legal process to serve as guardian and/or conservator of Cole County residents suffering with mental illness, mental retardation, developmental disability, individuals with brain injury, and advanced-age individuals with dementia or Alzheimer's who are unable to care for themselves or their property when there is no one else to serve, and in some cases, for minors under the age of 18.
They are also appointed as personal representative of descendents' estates.
"I should be able to hit the ground running, if elected," Kuensting said. "The first thing I would do would be to visit every one of the folks that are currently being served by the office, see what their health and financial conditions are and if their needs aren't met see that they are."