Thursday, February 9, 2012

Does McHenry County have a sheriff?

In November 2010 voters of McHenry County re-elected Keith Nygren as sheriff, and on December 1, 2010, he officially assumed the office for the current term, which ends November 30, 2014.

What should voters and residents of McHenry County expect from the elected sheriff, in exchange for the $140,000/year salary, plus benefits?

Where was he when Kurt Milliman was murdered in McHenry County, just outside Woodstock, last May? He certainly didn't hop into any spotlight or take the lead in a murder investigation.

Where was he when Audrey and Jack Feldkamp and Doran Bloom were killed in McHenry County, near Marengo, last June? Rumor has it that he flew back to McHenry County for a little face time and to declare, almost immediately, a version of the events of that evening that few now believe.

And where has he been since?

If a calendar of "Days Worked in 2011" was created for Keith Nygren, how many (or how few) days would be checked? And in a calendar of "Days Worked in 2012"?

Has Keith Nygren abandoned the office of Sheriff? Should the office be declared vacant? Who has the authority to do that? The County Clerk? The County Board?

Why should the office be declared vacant now? So that the voters get to choose a sheriff in November 2012 who will actually show up for work and earn his pay! If those with the authority malinger, the deadline will pass, and then the County Board will get to appoint the person to take over until November 2014.

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