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Keach to keep leadership as Rock County coroner

JANESVILLE — Rock County Coroner Jenifer Keach said Tuesday she would serve local families, seek grant money and improve the office in the next four years.

Democratic incumbent Keach, 39, of 1320 Elida St., Janesville, beat Democratic write-in candidate Terry L. Holder, 43, of 950 Nelson Ave., Milton, and independent write-in candidate Jason Dowd, 40, of 2052 Bootmaker Drive, Beloit, in the election.

"I am glad that the campaign is finally over," Keach said. "I would like to thank the voters of Rock County for their support. I look forward to the next four years serving them as coroner."

Keach said she wants to use grant money to get the coroner's office expensive items such as a cooler for bodies and a new case management database. She said she also wants grants to offer employees training.

Keach said she would like to add more forensic resources and get the office certified by the National Association of Medical Examiners. The only other Wisconsin county with that certification is Milwaukee County.

"That's very important to me to make sure that the job is done right," Keach said.

Keach was appointed coroner in 2005. She was elected to the position in 2006.

Keach was the only candidate on the ballot. She beat Holder in the primary, but Holder stayed in the race as a write-in. About a week before the election, Dowd entered the race as a write-in.

Keach and the coroner's office have been the center of controversy since shortly after she took office in 2005. The county board has repeatedly considered switching from an elected coroner's office to an appointed medical examiner.

Board members decided to have an advisory referendum Tuesday to let voters decide if the county should switch from a coroner to a medical examiner. The referendum passed.

Keach said she is ready to move on after the election.

"I'm a little tired of the mudslinging," she said.