A challenger to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is denouncing a change in state law that may keep her off the primary ballot in June.
Four months before the state’s primary elections, there’s a push to change a part of the state’s new criminal justice law that limits who may run for county sheriff. Candidates for sheriff must be certified law enforcement officers.
The Chicago Tribune reported a provision in the massive criminal justice bill signed by the governor a year ago exempts sitting sheriffs such as Tom Dart, who did not complete such training before taking office in 2006. Neither did Carmen Navarro Gercone, who worked in the sheriff’s office for 26 years. She called it, antics of machine politics and told the paper democratic leaders are actively working together to ensure voters do not have a choice on the ballot. Dart’s campaign said the part of the law was a surprise to him and he has always welcomed competition.
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The Tribune reported another potential rival Chris McCluster is hoping the general assembly amends the law. The head of the state sheriff’s association lobbied for the change and told the paper most people have the expectation that a sheriff is a cop.