Endorsement: Russell for Kane County sheriff in Republican primary

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain’s decision not seek a third term has multiple candidates running to succeed him.

On the Republican side, Rob Russell and Luis “Lou” Santoyo are vying for the opportunity to become their party’s nominee for the job. And both GOP candidates have great resumes.

Santoyo is an Elburn trustee who spent 25 years working for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office before retiring as a detective. He currently is an assistant warden for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Russell served three terms as Kane County coroner from 2012 to 2024. Before becoming coroner, he spent nearly two decades with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. He currently works for the Harper College Police Department.

If elected, Santoyo said he’s prepared to hit the ground running and combat various criminal threats, including gang violence and drug and human trafficking. He also says he would seek to improve the deployment of personnel and reduce response times. In addition, Santoyo says he understands what it takes to investigate violent crimes.

Russell, meanwhile, points to his accomplishments as coroner, where he improved the office and laid the groundwork for the county to establish a forensic crime lab.

His priorities as sheriff would be to expand the crime lab and add staffing so it could offer additional capabilities and services. He also wants to pursue accreditation for the sheriff’s office and says he would be committed to responsible budgeting.

Both candidates make a strong case for themselves. They each have the knowledge and experience to do the job. However, we are impressed by Russell’s desire to find ways to innovate and be forward-thinking.

Russell is endorsed.