County Democrats quick to settle on Josh Gross

Perry County Democrats on Tuesday unanimously selected Josh Gross to fill the upcoming vacancy in the office of Perry County Clerk Kevin Kern.

Gross, 35, is a Du Quoin resident and a native of Pinckneyville. He is currently a territory sales executive for Elavon, a US Bank subsidiary. He holds dual degrees in management and marketing.

"We are proud to recommend an experienced professional to fill this important office," stated Perry County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Nick Dolce. "Josh is personable, intelligent, and will use his experience and management skills to benefit the public in the County Clerk's office."

Current County Clerk Kevin Kern announced last week he will be stepping down in April to accept a position with U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart.

"I am very pleased with the Central Committee's decision to recommend Josh as our next County Clerk," Kern said. "I know Josh will continue the tradition of honorable public service in this position and will always be fair and look out for the best interests of the people."

If chosen by the Perry County Board of Commissioners, Gross would serve the remainder of Kern's term, which expires in November, 2014. The Perry County Board of Commissioners is expected to consider the appointment as soon as next week.

Gross is a native of Pinckneyville and a 1996 graduate of Pinckneyville Community High School. He earned an Associates' Degree in Science from Rend Lake College in 1998. He then attended Eastern Illinois University and then Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo., where he earned dual Bachelor's Degrees in Management and Marketing in 2001.

After graduating, Josh began applying his degrees in various management settings, spending time in both St. Louis and Wichita, Kan. His professional career began at American Express in St. Louis, where he worked for a short time as a sales representative. He soon made the transition into management, working in various capacities over the next 10 years at Target, OfficeMax, and Hewlett Packard. He currently works for US Bank subsidiary Elavon, where he is a successful regional sales executive.

Josh is married to LisaMarie (Lucas) Gross, whom he met and married while working in Wichita. They moved back to Illinois five years ago and purchased their current home on N. Washington St. in Du Quoin. Currently, Lisa is lucky enough to stay home with the children, and spends her time volunteering in the schools and various groups. They are the parents of two children: Conor, a first grader attending Du Quoin Elementary School, and Laken, who is finishing her second year in the pre-kindergarten program at Sacred Heart. The family attends both Sacred Heart and First Christian churches in Du Quoin.

Josh said he felt it was important to return to Perry County to raise his family and give back to the communities that raised him. After moving back, he realized that there was much more he could do to get involved and has spent a lot of his time and energy serving as a member of the Perry County Democratic Central Committee, precinct committeemen in Du Quoin, co-chairing State Rep. Jerry Costello's campaign in Perry County, and is secretary of the Du Quoin City Park Board.

Josh is the son of David and Linda (Winter) Gross of rural Pinckneyville. David is a master carpenter with the Local Carpenters Union Hall #636 out of Mt. Vernon. Linda is a registered nurse of oncology at Pinckneyville Community Hospital.