GOP candidate for Kane sheriff searching for new running mate

An unexpected retirement in the Kane County sheriff's office has triggered a ripple of replacements in the department as well as a key change in the November elections.

Undersheriff David Wagner will retire next month after nearly 22 years in the department. He is several years shy of age 50, when he would be eligible for a fully vested pension. He plans to work full time on a polygraph examination business he's had on the side for several years.

"I'm a point in my career where I feel like I've been blessed to have done everything I've wanted to do here," Wagner said in an email interview.

Republican candidate for sheriff, Don Kramer, thought Wagner wanted to continue as undersheriff. Kramer announced Wagner as his running mate earlier this year. Kramer still has the endorsement letter from Wagner on his campaign website.

"I still support his campaign for sheriff," Wagner wrote. "After the very close primary race, I took some time to re-evaluate my desire to have my future/position tied to the outcome of an election."

Wagner didn't reveal why he chose to announce his retirement now rather than wait for the outcome of the November election, saying only that it's time to "pass the torch." Wagner did say he might be open to coming back to the department if his polygraph business isn't faring well and Kramer wins and still wants him as undersheriff.

But Kramer isn't planning to wait and see how Wagner does in the private sector. Though he commends Wagner for braving a new career path, Kramer said he will take a second plunge into a stack of resumes for undersheriff he solicited at the onset of his campaign.

"I don't want to say I'm back to square one because I still have a good idea of the who is most qualified," Kramer said. "You don't just want to pick your buddy or the person who is politically connected. You want someone who can do the job."

Kramer said he didn't speak to Wagner specifically about the timing of the retirement. He speculated it may have something to do with awkwardness resulting from Wagner being part of Kramer's team while Sheriff Pat Perez is openly supporting fellow Democrat, Willie Mays, Sr., to be his successor.

On that same note, Kramer said it would be ideal if Perez left the undersheriff position vacant until after the election.

But like Kramer, Perez won't wait.

He's already announced that Lt. Pat Gengler will be the new undersheriff when Wagner retires. Gengler was also the undersheriff running mate for Kramer's Republican primary opponent, Kevin Williams.

"Lt. Gengler is the next guy that I think can fill the bill," Perez said. "I want to make sure there's as much continuity in the department as I can because who knows what the next sheriff is going to do."

Perez said there is no tension between himself and Wagner. He described his current undersheriff as "the consummate professional."

"Dave's going to be hard to replace," Perez said. "I wish him nothing but the best."

Gengler's pending move will trigger two other promotions at lower ranks, and ultimately free up a deputy position that would be filled by a new hire.