For Lake County sheriff, Democratic: Roberts
It was nearly four years ago that Mark Curran became the darling of the Democratic Party in Lake County when he defeated Republican incumbent Gary Del Re to win the race for sheriff.
But much has changed on the county's political landscape since then.
Curran has jumped ship and will run for re-election as a Republican in November. That has forced Democrats to search for a new candidate who can maintain the party's hold on the high-profile office.
The choice in the Feb. 2 primary is between Waukegan attorney Douglas Roberts of Beach Park and former Lake County Sheriff's Deputy John Krempotic of North Chicago.
We endorse Roberts in large part because the settlement of four civil rights lawsuits against Krempotic while a sheriff's deputy makes him a candidate we can't support for this office.
Lake County paid $260,000 to settle civil rights lawsuits filed by six people in 2003 and 2004. Two suits alleged Krempotic helped a friend file a false police report; two others alleged he broke into a home to administer a field sobriety test to two girls he claimed looked intoxicated and under age.
Krempotic said the decision to settle, rather than defend the suits, was made by Del Re while he was sheriff. Del Re, he claims, wanted Krempotic fired after unionized deputies voted against supporting the sheriff during the 2002 election.
But Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said the decision to settle the lawsuits was made by his office "because there was no defense for the actions of John Krempotic."
Had the cases gone to trial, Waller said, there would have been much larger verdicts.
As for Roberts, 62, he has focused much of his primary campaign on criticizing Curran's management of the sheriff's office.
Roberts has raised concerns about what he has described as serious problems in morale, politics, staffing and lack of training for employees.
He has cited comments made by employees he knows in the office, but offered few specifics to support those claims.
Roberts has never held elected office and we trust he will provide more detailed evidence and specific solutions as he becomes a more experienced campaigner.
Roberts has offered other ideas he says would improve the sheriff's office.
He questions the need for the undersheriff, the second in command at a salary of $140,965. He says money could be saved by using a chief or deputy chief to fill the role.
He opposes a new jail and thinks outstanding warrants can be cut by going back a number of years and dropping any warrants that don't involve felonies.
He pledges new hiring and promotion practices to lessen the influence of money and politics.