Cook County Sheriff's Race: IL Primary Election 2022

COOK COUNTY, IL — Since 2006, Thomas Dart has served as the Sheriff of Cook County. In Tuesday's primary election, the Democrat will seek the party's nod again for November's general election. He is seeking a fifth term.

Ahead of the election, Patch distributed questionnaires to candidates running in contested races in the Democratic and Republican parties, including the three candidates seeking a four-year term as Cook County Sheriff.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Dart faces off with Noland Rivera and LaTonya Ruffin. There are no Republican candidates on the ballot. Brad Sanderfur will run in the general election as a Libertarian.

Originally, Carmen Navarro Gercone was a candidate for the Democratic nod, but she was tossed off the ballot June 8 for the second time by an Illinois appellate court. The court's ruling states the candidate is "ineligible to run for sheriff because she failed to obtain a law enforcement certification that is now required for county sheriffs in Illinois under a controversial provision of a new state law."

Navarro Gercone appealed the decision, but lost the appeal. Since the ruling, notices have been placed at early voting sites and future polling sites informing voters that Navarro Gercone has been removed as a candidate, and that votes for her will not be counted.

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Dart, 60, has been in Illinois politics since 1991, having formerly served as a member of the Illinois Senate from the 14th District, and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 28th District.

In the last two election cycles (2014, 2018), Dart ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Dart did not respond to Patch's questionnaire.

According to his website, Dart is responsible for overseeing a police department that patrols and investigates crimes, while also hunting for fugitives, throughout suburban Cook County. He also oversees more than 10,000 inmates and 3,000 correctional officers at the Cook County Jail — the largest single-site jail in the nation. Additionally, Dart’s deputies are responsible for providing judicial safety in hundreds of courtrooms scattered across Cook County, while they are also responsible for serving thousands of court orders every year.

Candidate Noland Rivera, of Chicago, is a sergeant of police with the Chicago Police Department. In his Patch questionnaire, he said, "As a 28-year veteran Sergeant of the Chicago Police Department, I know intimately how crime destroys hope, families, and communities. We are a county of rich and diverse communities and we must come together to ensure we provide a safe, prosperous, and welcoming community. It is without a doubt, that now is the time to strive for the greatest outcome for our future and the future of our children. I am running for Sheriff to bring sound common sense leadership, eliminate fraud, waste and abuse at all levels, work with local, state, and federal agencies to bring more resources to the Sheriff's office, to hire more Deputies, and improve and maintain safe working and efficient detention facilities."

RELATED: Noland Rivera: Cook County Sheriff Candidate

LaTonya Ruffin did not respond to Patch's questionnaire. According to her website, Ruffin has served and protected as a law enforcement officer in several Cook County municipalities the past two decades. She worked as a patrol officer at the police department in Dixmoor, Markham, and Robbins.

Ruffin patrolled the streets of these cities and neighborhoods, responding to problems where necessary. Ruffin believes in enforcing the laws, mitigating public disturbances, investigating possible crimes and apprehending those responsible for breaking the law. Ruffin also has five years of experience working with the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.