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Macon County, IL Sheriff

RACE DETAILS

Parents

> United States > Illinois > IL Counties > Macon > County Sheriff

Office

County Sheriff

Honorific

County Sheriff - Abbr: County Sheriff

Type

General Election

Filing Deadline

May 24, 2021 - 12:00pm Central

Polls Open

May 25, 2021 - 06:00am Central

Polls Close

May 25, 2021 - 07:00pm Central

Term Start

June 01, 2021 - 06:05pm

Term End

December 01, 2022 - 06:00pm

Contributor

Last Modified

ev June 02, 2021 10:08am

Data Sources

[Link]

Description

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.

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.