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Editorials
Sheriff's race may get real interesting : Editorials : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisSheriff's race may get real interesting
| 3/14/2013
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As we reported last week, Oswego Police Chief Dwight Baird has moved a step closer to running for the position of Kendall County Sheriff last week.
Baird has filed papers with the State of Board of elections establishing the "Baird for Sheriff" committee.
Baird, however, told our reporter, Tony Scott, that by filing the papers he is only, at this point, keeping his options open.
"It is still very early and far from a candidacy announcement," Baird said.
If he does decide to run, Baird said he will run as a candidate in the March 2014 Republican Party primary election and challenge long-time incumbent Sheriff Richard Randall and Plano Police Chief Steve Eaves.
Randall will be seeking his eighth term as sheriff, while Eaves told the Plano City Council of his election plans last September.
If Baird joins Eaves in challenging Randall, it would-in our opinion-prove the most interesting race for a county governmental position since long-time State's Attorney Dallas Ingemunson stepped down in 1996 and three well qualified candidates (attorneys Tim McCann, Melissa Barnhart and Rusty Baker) campaigned fiercely for the job.
Eaves has served as police chief in Plano for the past 24 years, while Baird has been chief of the county's largest municipal police force in Oswego for the past 10 years and an officer with the department since 1992.
Randall, meanwhile, has been a favorite of county voters since he was first elected as sheriff in 1986-the same year that then State Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Plano, was first elected to Congress.
The Randall name is certainly familiar with county voters and incumbency for any candidate has distinct advantages in a local race. That said, however, incumbent candidates also must run on their records.
If Baird jumps into the race we fully expect to be covering one hotly contested campaign next spring as Randall defends his record and Baird and Eaves attempt to persuade voters that the time has come for a new sheriff in town.
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