A new person will soon lead the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office.
Longtime Sheriff Dick Meyers did not seek re-election.
Republican Gary Caruana is a retired security manager for UPS. He says he wants employees in the sheriff's office to be "constructively dissatisfied" with the status quo.
He says, if elected, he isn't afraid of moving people around in his first few months.
"In the workplace, you are not always going to be happy with the places you go to," Caruana said. "I understand that. If it's explained right, and you have the right person and talent and they can be more effective in situation A versus B, you move them forward and you train them, coach them, and counsel them."
Caruana says the office needs to prioritize good street intelligence and investigations on drugs, gangs, and gun trafficking. He calls this election, a "turning point" for the office.
Democrat Bob Springer is a former Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief. He says he considers crime a regional issue.
"If elected, I will call a regional meeting of all chiefs and sheriffs and discuss what everyone is addressing individually, and how can we address that more collaboratively, and 'Can we come up with one strategy that we can all agree on?' "
Springer also wants to increase the diversity of the Sheriff's Office. He says that may involved hiring a recruiter. He notes a reduction in the Sheriff's budget for the upcoming year as a challenge.
The election will be held Nov. 4.
