The head of the union that represents employees in the Rock Island County Circuit Clerk's office says he and his members question the hiring of the former clerk's daughter for a $51,000 a year job that was never posted.
"My members are upset about it. People that are calling me are saying there's internal people that would have loved to put in for it if the job was posted", said Jeff Stulir, AFSCME President.
Sara Bierman was hired this month as a systems manager for the clerk's office, just days after new Circuit Clerk Tammy Weikert was appointed to the position by outgoing Circuit Clerk Lisa Bierman.
Bierman is Sara's mother.
The 24-year old worked as a sales trainee for a short time at WQAD, and as a social media marketing specialist for Lee Enterprises.
"It doesn't look good for the county or anybody . I think you have to have an open process, give everbody a chance to interview", Stulir said.
"We have people that put a lot of years in and they just want a chance to be able to advance", he said.
The job description for systems manager obtained by WQAD says the position calls for installing computers and their operating systems and printers, as well as software.
It also requires an associate degree in technology or related field. Bierman graduated in 2009 with a degree in journalism.
It also lists the wage range as between $28,000 to 48,000 per year.
Bierman was hired at $51,500.
Weikert says she needed to hire someone fast, and didn't believe anyone within the clerk's office was neither "qualified or interested".
"I disagree, we have a qualified workforce here. No one knew about it. I would have liked to have seen a normal job posting", Stulir said.
"If I were in her position with all the calls and everything, I think I would start the process over because she'll be running for office within a year. You have to answer to the voters and if they think something was done wrong the odds of getting re-elected are slim", Stulir said.
The position is a non-union management position, so Stulir says he can't file a grievance. Still, some in the courthouse have called the hiring a slap in the face, and "a joke".
"If they would have opened it up to all applicants and she ended up with it, I don't think people would have a problem with it. But the way the way the process went is what people have an issue with", he said.
Weikert is running for Circuit Clerk in the primary in March.