Retiring Kane County sheriff’s absence an issue in race for his successor

Ron Hain is stepping down as Kane County sheriff, but lingering questions over his monthslong absence are hovering over the race to elect his replacement.

Republican Rob Russell has criticized Democrat Amy Johnson, Hain’s longtime second-in-command, for not publicly addressing the sheriff’s status when he took leave in the spring.

“When you become a public official, part of your life, part of your private life, now is, you know, not as private as it used to be,” Russell, of Hampshire, said during an interview with the Daily Herald.

But Johnson, the undersheriff since 2022, said she was honoring Hain’s family’s desire to keep the matter private, as well as acting on the advice of Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser.

“Yes, you're an alleged public official,” Johnson said. “But you have the same rights, the same privacy as any other person.”

Johnson told sheriff’s office employees in an April email that Hain was on medical leave. She said county board members also were informed at the time.

But there was no public announcement and Johnson and other county leaders declined to explain Hain’s status for months.

Russell said he agrees that Hain has a right to keep medical details private, but that the public deserved to know if and why the person it had elected was not working.

“It was disrespectful to the people,” Russell said of the lack of public disclosure.

Hain’s status became known to the greater public when Russell posted about it on Facebook. The email from Johnson to staff was released only after reporters filed Freedom of Information Act requests about the matter.

Russell also criticized Johnson for going along with what the state’s attorney advice

“You take the advisement, but you have to run the office, because of the separation of powers,” he said. “You have to run the office the way that you think is best.”

Earlier this month, the sheriff’s office announced Hain is retiring effective Nov. 1. The statement quoted Hain as saying he wants to focus on his health and his family.

Hain has not returned telephone calls, email messages or text messages from the Daily Herald for at least six months.

Leadership

Johnson was named undersheriff in October 2022, after a nearly 20-year career in the office that began as an intern in 2003. She later served as an evidence technician, a deputy, a field training officer, a detective, a grant writer and a juvenile officer.

She’s been the office’s top cop in Hain’s absence.

“I’ve gone through the wringer of what’s going on right now at the sheriff’s office,” she said. “This was not on my bingo card of anything that you could possibly think of for second-in-command.”

But, she continued, “Bring it on. I am absolutely up for the challenge because I’ve never backed away from anything.”

Russell retired as a DuPage County deputy when he became Kane County coroner in 2012. Since losing reelection in 2024, he has worked as a police officer, currently at Harper College.

He cites his experience leading a county office, including fighting for increased spending with former county board Chair Chris Lauzen, also a Republican. Russell took over an office that had been operated by a fellow Republican who was facing felony official misconduct charges before dying while in office.

Russell pushed hard to get a new facility built for the coroner, and got accreditation for the office.

“I think I’ve shown that I have (leadership traits) by turning one office around,” he said.

ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com