James T. "Jim" Harrison: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: JohnsburgWebsite: www.JimHarrisonForSheriff.comOffice sought: McHenry County Sheriff Age: 56Family: My family came to McHenry County in 1895 when my great grandfather purchased property along the west shore of Pistakee Lake which was later developed by my grandparents into "Pink Harrison's Resort," which operated for 80 years in McHenry County. My father, H.F. (Bert) Harrison, was a real estate appraiser and my mother Paula Harrison was a registered nurse turned homemaker. I have five siblings, two brothers, Frank and Bert Jr. (deceased), and three sisters, Lois, Paula and Debbie (deceased). My wife Carolyn and I have three adult children between us.Occupation: Attorney/Adjunct Professor of LawEducation: Juris Doctor - Law John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois - 1991 Bachelor of Science - Business Administration/Finance Rockford College, Rockford, Illinois - 1986 Associate of Science - Business McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, Illinois - 1978 Diploma Graduate with Honors - Marian Central High School, Woodstock, Illinois - 1976Civic involvement: McHenry County Human Rights Commission; 1996-1999Elected offices held: This is my first time running for public office.Questions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?I am running for McHenry County Sheriff to return to public service and to bring a more substantial skill-set to the Office. I believe my education and experience will enhance professionalism in the Sheriff's Office, will save the taxpayers money, and will improve our community. I believe the Sheriff's Office needs to reconnect with the community and I intend to make efforts to change the current culture of isolationism, and to integrate the Sheriff's police back into the community at large.If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?As the first independent candidate on the ballot for Sheriff in McHenry County's history, I plan to purge outside political influences, special interests, and cronyism from the Sheriff's Office. Internally, my priority would be to promote an environment of equal treatment, equal opportunity, and one set of rules that applies to everyone.What crime should be the department's top target. Drugs? Gang violence? Child sex abuse? Something else? Why? What steps will you take to address the priorities as you see them?My top priorities are two-fold: 1) domestic violence against women and children, and 2) drugs that kill (i.e. methamphetamine and heroin) and ruin (i.e. cocaine). My domestic violence policy is simple: Inflict domestic violence on a woman or a child in McHenry County and you will be arrested. Domestic violence is best addressed through the court system and its far-reaching powers. My officers will insure that offenders are brought before the court. The primary focus of drug interdiction efforts will be on heroin, a drug that has taken the lives of far too many McHenry County children and young adults.Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the sheriff's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expense or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?Approximately 75% of the Sheriff's budget goes to the wages and benefits of the Sheriff's Office's 400+ employees. Wages and benefits are contractual for the majority of the employees. The discretionary spending is where the Sheriff can cut costs. One main budgetary concern is the terminal contract with the federal government to house federal detainees. Before the contract expires, I plan to investigate the possibility of converting the space into a juvenile detention facility, which would both benefit the people of the County, and enable jail employees, who might otherwise be laid off, to continue employment.Name one concrete program you'll create or personnel move you'll make to improve efficiency in the department or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.I plan to eliminate the Undersheriff position, which is, in my opinion, an unnecessary administrative position for a working Sheriff, and I intend to work full-time as Sheriff. Elimination of the Undersheriff position will enable direct supervision of the three divisional Chiefs (Jail, Police Services, and Administration) by the Sheriff, without unnecessary administrative layering. The Undersheriff positions pays more than $150,000 per year.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am concerned by the current militarization of the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office is a law enforcement agency, not a militia, and I will re-focus on other priorities. The number of federal lawsuits filed against the Sheriff's Office based on constitutional claims, demonstrates a need for additional training on the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. Substantial time and legal expense goes toward employment issues within the Sheriff's Office. My legal training and experience will enable me to cut those costs by making official employment decisions that are supported by the law in the first instance.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I am currently uninspired by our leadership. However, Thomas Jefferson, whose words defined the birth of our nation, remains a constant inspiration to me.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Family and friends don't keep score.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?My last conversation with my brother before he died.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?"Logic" enabled me to reduce a written argument to its basic form, in order to assess whether the argument is logical. Very good for lawyers.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?A person's character is defined by their choices not their abilities.