Prim wins race for McHenry County sheriff

Republican Bill Prim has won the race for McHenry County sheriff by a wide margin.

Prim, 55, of Cary, had 41,320 votes, or about 60 percent of total votes, compared to Independent Jim Harrison, 56, of Johnsburg, who had 27,028 votes, with 209 of 212 precincts reporting. The unofficial tally does not include early votes, as well as provisional and late absentee ballots.

Prim could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.

Prim retired as a Des Plaines police commander after a 27-year career. He now works as a court security officer in Lake County.

Harrison served eight years as a McHenry County Sheriff's deputy and has run a law firm in Woodstock since 1991. His clients have included the county and the sheriff's office.

Both candidates said if elected they would look at curbing costs and tackle the heroin problem.

During the campaign, Prim said he wants to improve morale within the department; Harrison says the department needs to reconnect with the community.

There are too many high-level administrative positions in the office that don't affect public safety, Prim said. One has become vacant and will remain so under his authority, he has said. Asset forfeiture - or confiscation of criminal assets - also would be at the top of his list, he added.

Harrison had planned to look at the possibility of housing juveniles in the county jail as its contract to house federal detainees is expiring. He also planned to eliminate the undersheriff's position, which pays more than $150,000.

During the campaign, Harrison called into question Prim's judgment, pointing to his former campaign chairman, who has a misdemeanor assault conviction resulting from a bar fight in 2001.