Sheriff Tom Dart wins in Democratic rematch
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart won Tuesday in a rematch against challenger Sylvester Baker in the Democratic Primary.
With 4,350 of 4,510 precincts counted, unofficial results show Dart with 380,654 votes to Baker's 115,464 votes.
Dart credits his victory to the accomplishments he has made over the past four years. "We felt confident we did a good job," Dart said late Tuesday.
During the campaign, Dart boasted of reforms he's made, such as altering the eviction process to make sure families have ample notice and access to social-service agencies. He says he could move the Cook County Jail this year into full compliance and out from under the decades-old Duran Decree, which deals with jail crowding. The race involved a face off between an incumbent reformer against a retired veteran officer in a rematch from four years ago.
Baker, a retired sheriff's police sergeant, told supporters Tuesday evening that he might consider running again. "If I have the health, strength, motivation and drive, I'll be back in 2014," he said.
He has dismissed Dart's campaigns against dogfights and Internet prostitutes as little more than publicity stunts.
Dart will now face Republican Frederick Collins and Green Party candidate Marshall Lewis in the November general election.
Dart had little formal background in law enforcement when he was elected in 2006. He'd been an assistant state's attorney and served in the Illinois General Assembly before becoming chief of staff to Sheriff Michael Sheahan. When Sheahan called it quits, Dart ran to replace him.
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<li><a href="/news/politics/elections/2010/primary/race/?id=145">Complete coverage of the Cook Co. sheriff race</a></li>
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