Kramer squeaks out win in Kane sheriff race
Don Kramer always felt his talents were underutilized while working for Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez. Now he may get a chance to show what he can do against his former boss as the two square off for the county's top badge in November.
Kramer squeaked out an apparent win over fellow GOP challenger Rob Russell Tuesday night for the Republican nomination.
However, the vote was so close that Russell isn't giving up.
He believes it may be at least two weeks before the final vote totals are known. Even then, Russell said he may call for a recount just for peace of mind.
The vote hinged on a handful of lingering precincts in Aurora for most of the night, with a 10-vote lead for Russell hanging in the balance.
When the final Aurora votes came in, Kramer pulled ahead by 208 votes to steal the win.
Kramer could not be reached for comment by the time the late votes were counted.
Russell said he's not conceding anything yet. He believes there are about 900 absentee ballots in the race that have yet to be counted that may change the outcome.
"I feel I've done everything I can do," Russell said. "We're still kind of trying to find out which hill of this roller coaster we're on. Whatever happens happens at this point. I'm not conceding anything, but at this point I do want to give Don some kudos for a good race."
Unlike most primary contests, Kramer and Russell contrasted on many issues the sheriff's office faces. Kramer wants more sworn officers; Russell said the county has enough already. Kramer wants to expand the jail; Russell said the budgetary times won't allow additional staffing and construction. Russell believed a big answer to the department's problems is accreditation, using national standards for what the department should have. Kramer believed the main answer is a leader willing to make the tough cuts.
Voters appeared to side with Kramer's vision in sending him on to face Perez.
Kramer has been critical of Perez' leadership throughout the primary. He only recently retired from the sheriff's office, leaving with a four-day furlough to cap off his decades of service. Kramer's critical sentiment is sure to continue. Meanwhile, Perez believes he's answered his critics in cutting the positions of the two highest-paid employees on his staff in recent weeks and helping negotiate union concessions that should get his budget back in line for 2010.
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