Kane Co. sheriff to seek re-election

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez announced Friday his plans to seek a second term.

Perez, 52, told a crowd of supporters in St. Charles he believes his office has come a long way since he was elected in 2006 - and "we're just getting started."

"We've experienced a great deal of positive change since I was sworn in," Perez said. "But we are not going to rest on those accomplishments."

A lifelong county resident, Perez cited expanded community policing and outreach services, reduced civil lawsuits and the elimination of the rank of captain among improvements to his office during his first term. He also noted the successful relocation of 511 inmates to the new county jail in St. Charles over the summer as a major achievement.

"My goal for this department has been to leave it better than I found it," he said.

Perez, who has been at odds with the county board for months as he's struggled to make budget cuts, said his office finished 2008 within budget and would have done the same this year if not for the deep 5.5 percent cuts imposed by the board midyear.

"We're doing the absolute best we can with what we have," he said.

So far, Perez faces just one challenger, DuPage County Sheriff's Deputy Rob Russell of South Elgin, in the Republican primary Feb. 2, 2010. No Democrats have announced.

The sheriff will be elected in November 2010.