Kramer will be next Kane County sheriff

It took him two tries, but Donald Kramer didn't give up and achieved his goal to become the next Kane County sheriff and to follow in his father's footsteps.

According to Tuesday night's unofficial results, the Geneva Republican tallied nearly 63 percent of the turnout - or 72,730 votes compared to 42,733 for Democrat Willie Mayes Sr.

Kramer will replace Pat Perez, who did not seek a third term, and will follow in the footsteps of his father, George, who served as sheriff from 1978 to 1986.

Kramer's camp called the 30,000-vote victory a "landslide."

"It has been a long road to arrive here at this moment of victory but well worth traveling in the end. Thank you to the voters of Kane County who have bestowed me with the honor of serving as their next sheriff," Kramer said in a statement. "Tonight, voters sent a clear message what direction they want the sheriff's office to go moving forward."

Kramer retired with the rank of lieutenant from the Kane County Sheriff's Department in 2009 and ran for sheriff.

Kramer won the Republican primary in 2010 but lost the general election to Perez.

Kramer defeated fellow Republican Kevin Williams in the spring 2014 primary to earn another chance at sheriff.

Kramer, 56, stressed that under his leadership, the sheriff's department could do more with less, and he emphasized more communication within the department and getting commanding officers on the streets.

Mayes, 52, a lieutenant at the sheriff's department, stressed he made a 100-day plan so residents could hold him accountable.

Mayes also served as a guard at the Kane County jail and through the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles. He said that experience, along with more training for deputies, jail guards and court security could help reduce suicides at the jail.

Both candidates agreed that heroin is a problem for the county, and supported multipronged approaches to fighting it.

Kramer will be sworn in as Sheriff Dec. 1.