Will sheriff: Piazza

Two-term incumbent Paul Kaupas of Mokena can point to accomplishments such as a jail expansion, a new gang suppression unit and one of the state's lowest crime rates.

But these have been overshadowed by serious mistakes. Kevin Fox spent eight months in jail for the murder of his 3-year-old daughter Riley before being released due to DNA evidence, evidence that later led to another man's arrest. Charges in a very public sting of hotel and motel owners for stealing credit card information had to be dropped. And now a Lynwood police office has been cleared as a suspect in two recent shootings, while no new leads have arisen.

Democrat Pete Piazza of Lockport, a deputy sheriff of 24 years and former chief investigator for the county state's attorney's office, does not have Kaupas' experience running a department with more than 600 employees, but he can help turn the department in a more productive direction and voters need to send a strong signal that these serious missteps need to end.

We endorse Piazza.