Roberts romps to Lake County Democratic sheriff win

Democrat Doug Roberts admits it'll be a tough fight come November when he faces incumbent Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran in the general election.

However, the attorney from Waukegan - who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday - said it's definitely a contest he can win.

"I think I have a lot of support in the legal community and the law enforcement community," said Roberts, who's making his first run at elected office.

With all 481 precincts reporting, unofficial vote totals show Roberts garnered 20,137 votes to best former Lake County sheriff's Deputy John Krempotic, who collected 6,409 tallies. The sheriff's job has a four-year term.

Roberts and Krempotic spent the primary campaign focusing on Curran, a Libertyville resident who snagged the post four years ago as a Democrat when he defeated GOP incumbent Gary Del Re.

Curran was unopposed in the primary and will be on the ballot for the first time as a Republican in November. He switched to the Republican Party in 2008.

Roberts, 62, has questioned spending at the sheriff's office under Curran's watch and says employee morale has been low. He said he's been receiving information from sheriff's deputies and others in law enforcement.

"Mark has a number of issues that concern me," Roberts said. "The management of that office is a disaster."

Roberts said one of his goals is to remove politics from the sheriff's office and that he intends to be on duty from at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. He also wants to be a "financial watchdog."

As for Krempotic, 52, of North Chicago, he also criticized Curran during the primary. He linked Curran to racial profiling in traffic stops by claiming the sheriff instructed deputies to target Hispanic drivers as part of his stance against illegal immigration.

Despite the outcome, Krempotic said he was proud of how he and Roberts ran clean primary campaigns. He said he plans to help Roberts defeat Curran in November.

"I'm a little disappointed in the voter turnout," Krempotic said. "I thought I presented myself well."

Krempotic was sued four times for civil rights violations while serving as a deputy under Del Re - a fact that came up in the primary. The civil lawsuits filed in 2003 and 2004 cost county taxpayers $260,000 to settle out of court.

Roberts said if the national mood turns against Democrats, he and other local candidates may be affected. He said Lake County Democrats will have to work hard to overcome any problems the party may encounter on a national level.

"I think it is going to be a very difficult time for any Democrat in this election cycle," said Roberts.

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