Jennifer Banek, who defeated Howard Cooper, was sworn in as the new Lake County coroner on Tuesday and says she is eager to get to work.
Lake County Chief Judge Diane Winter swore Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek into office. Banek, who was elected to her first term, was one of four countywide officials sworn into office today.
The others were newly elected Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, and Lake County Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer and Lake County Circuit Court Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein, who were both re-elected to their positions.
Banek resides in Green Oaks and is a certified registered nurse anesthetist, providing anesthesia to patients in Illinois and Wisconsin in preparation for surgery, according to the coroner’s office.
She has been an active member in the anesthesia field, providing guidance and leadership to more than 200 registered nurses in Illinois.
“Banek has dedicated her life to public service and serving people. She is a Captain in the US Army Reserve and most recently returned last January from her deployment at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where she provided anesthesia to military personnel before surgery,” the coroner’s office said in a statement.
Banek has been a member of the Cook Memorial Library Board since 2018 serving as the secretary and is a board member of the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She is also a committee member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
She says she is looking forward to serving as the new Lake County coroner.
“I am honored by the support I’ve received from the voters of Lake County, and eager to get to work as Lake County Coroner. I look forward to being an advocate for all of Lake County’s amazing communities as we get through the pandemic and other challenges,” Banek said.