Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

2018 Macon County sheriff’s race still in dispute as incumbent readies appeal

Posted in:

Illinois

* Coming a little late to this story, but we were kinda busy around here…

Two uncounted ballots propelled a three-year-long recount that was finalized on Friday.

Macon County Circuit Court Associate Judge Anna Benjamin declared Jim Root the winner of the Macon County Sheriff’s race from 2018, a spot currently held by Sheriff Tony Brown.

So, why did the ruling take two and a half years? It was a number of factors, including the pandemic. Root’s lawyer said this type of election contest is just like any other lawsuit in Illinois, it’s a judicial process. Plus, manually counting ballots is time-consuming.

The initial count put Sheriff Brown in his current position by one vote. Now, the count shows Jim Root is the winner by 16 votes.

* There will be an appeal…

The 2018 race for Macon County sheriff isn’t over yet.

Tony Brown said Saturday that he plans to appeal the order from Champaign County Circuit Court Judge Anna M. Benjamin that found that Jim Root won the race by 16 votes. The final tally was 19,579 votes for Root to 19,563 votes for Brown.

“Obviously I am disappointed as far as the judge’s ruling,” Brown said. “We plan on appealing.”

Brown, who was sworn into office in 2018, said he also will be requesting that he be able to remain as sheriff pending the outcome of the appeal process.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:53 am

Comments

It’s a shame there was no possible remedy to just have a special election last November for the remaining two years of the sheriff’s term where such a dispute was still ongoing.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 8:58 am
I want this dispute to go on for years, growing more and more comical, until we end up with slapstick comedy that rivals the characters from Grumpy Old Men.

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:37 am
Already former acting Sheriff Howard Buffett announced his plans last month to run for the office next year.

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:44 am
Just in time for Howard Buffett to swoop in and claim a 2022 victory. His campaign would be fairly easy: a). claim Brown was illegitimate if he runs against him and bring this up on the campaign trail. b). claim Root doesn’t have the experience he has if Root gets his 1 or so odd year as sheriff especially since Buffett had a decent term when he was appointed a few years back.

I’m not one of the anti-Buffett militants that run around Macon county either. Just putting this news together with the fact that Buffett’s already started campaigning. I mean…all over Macon county he’s already put up billboards.

Just my 2 cents though.

Comment by CMZ Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 9:45 am
At this point, would any declared “winner” have the support of his department, let alone residents of the county?

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 10:51 am
How much money has been spent on lawyers for a job that pays less than $115,000?

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 11:01 am