Thank You, But Also: A Complicated Goodbye to Becky Hume

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — On July 18, 2025, Becky Hume officially retired as Village Clerk of Arlington Heights, concluding 14 years in that role and more than 17 years of public service to the Village. Her departure closes a chapter marked by institutional continuity, deep operational knowledge, and steadfast support for the administrative systems that keep local government running.

For many residents, Hume was a familiar presence at Village Board meetings. calling roll, swearing in trustees, certifying elections, and signing official documents. But most of her work happened behind the scenes: overseeing public records, managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, coordinating elections, and ensuring compliance with open meetings laws. These aren’t glamorous responsibilities, but they’re essential to how local democracy functions.

Hume led several major modernization efforts. Under her leadership, the Clerk’s Office:

• Digitized thousands of archived documents,
• Introduced two generations of electronic agenda systems,
• Shifted FOIA request processing to an online platform,
• Oversaw two updates to document destruction procedures in line with State Archives requirements,
• And transitioned the Village Code to Municode, an online legal code system.

In the last three years alone, the Clerk’s Office processed over 6,300 FOIA requests, averaging 200 to 250 per month. Hume also wrote the official minutes for 345 Village Board and Committee of the Whole meetings and managed eight municipal elections. Village Manager Randy Recklaus said she was “a valuable part of the organization” and noted that her institutional knowledge will be missed.

That knowledge was shaped by a varied path. Hume graduated from Arlington High School in 1983 and earned a journalism degree from Indiana University. She began her career in merchandising, later developing lifelong learning programs at Friendship Village in Schaumburg, and then served as volunteer coordinator at the Arlington Heights Senior Center before joining the Village in 2000. She was appointed Village Clerk in 2011 after several administrative roles, following Village Clerk Edwina Corso’s retirement; the position has been appointed since a 1974 referendum. Over her tenure, she earned credentials as a Certified Municipal Clerk, FOIA Officer, Election Official, Certified Volunteer Manager, and Notary Public.

Still, the nature of the job meant Hume’s work was often invisible to the public, unless you were filing a FOIA request, attending a board meeting, or trying to navigate election procedures. The Clerk’s Office isn’t high-profile, but it’s pivotal in shaping access to public information.

I learned that firsthand. I’m not a professional journalist by trade, but I began writing about Arlington Heights out of a deep commitment to transparency and accountability. Though I no longer reside in the Village, I continue to follow its government closely. Residents deserve to understand how decisions are made and how their systems function.

Becky Hume was the first person I interviewed when I began covering local government. In 2023, I reached out to learn more about the history of the Clerk’s Office, and she agreed to speak with me by phone. We discussed the 1974 referendum that made the Clerk an appointed position and how the role has evolved since then. That conversation helped shape one of my earliest articles. I was new to the work and still learning, but she took the time to speak with me, and I remain grateful.
At the same time, it’s important to examine what her legacy also includes.

Over the years, I’ve submitted many FOIA requests to the Clerk’s Office. Some were handled efficiently and professionally. Others were delayed, incomplete, or seemed more focused on protecting the institution than serving the public. While I’m not making specific allegations, I do believe there may have been instances of wrongdoing. Regardless, the way information is shared or withheld has a real impact on public trust.

That tension isn’t unique to Arlington Heights. Across the country, journalists, researchers, and residents face similar challenges. But when the person responsible for public access appears to err on the side of restriction, that’s worth scrutiny, especially in a role specifically tasked with supporting open government.

It’s possible to appreciate someone’s service and still examine how they used their authority. Public service isn’t only about longevity, it’s about building and maintaining trust. And that trust was, at times, strained.

Now, Arlington Heights begins a new chapter. On July 21, 2025, Maggie Mattio was sworn in as the new Village Clerk. Previously a part-time administrative assistant in the Finance Department, Mattio handled FOIA requests, enforced local tax ordinances, and managed liability claims. Earlier in her career, she worked at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, starting as a records clerk while earning a degree in Criminal Justice Administration, eventually becoming a legal assistant.

Mattio inherits a streamlined and well-organized system, but also steps into a moment when public expectations for transparency are higher than ever. Residents want clarity, access, and accountability. How she leads will set the tone for years ahead.

To Becky Hume: Thank you for your service to Arlington Heights. You helped maintain the operations of a complex institution and carried knowledge that few others had. You showed up consistently in a role that rarely receives public recognition.

At the same time, it’s fair to acknowledge that public trust in the Clerk’s Office wasn’t always as strong as it could have been. And in a position grounded in public access, that trust is essential.
This is a time to reflect and to reset. The tools and systems are in place. The question now is how we choose to use them.

As a civilian journalist, I’ll keep watching. I’ll continue to ask questions, file records requests, and connect the public with the information that belongs to them.

Because democracy isn’t just about voting, it’s about access, accountability, and the shared belief that government should serve the people, not shield itself from them.

And that work doesn’t stop with one retirement.