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New Randolph County officials sworn in

Posted November 30, 2014 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The anticipation is over for the newest class of county officials, who were sworn in on Monday by Judge Richard A. Brown at the Randolph County Courthouse.

Justin Jeffers (Treasurer), Shannon Wolff (Sheriff) and Ronnie White (County Commissioner) officially take on their new roles after winning their respective races in the Nov. 4 general election.

County Clerk Pat Laramore, currently in her 12th year in her position and 21st at the courthouse, Monroe-Randolph Regional Superintendent of Schools Kelton Davis and County Supervisor of Assessments Wayne Voss were also sworn in.

"I'm excited and I'm confident we have a great staff (in the Sheriff's Office)," Wolff said. "A lot of great people and I think, with them helping me, the department as a whole will make the right decisions."

Wolff, a Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Mike Hoelscher in the election. Wolff was a deputy sheriff under Hoelscher and takes his new position at a tough time.

"We have contract negotiations with the (Fraternal Order of Police) on Tuesday," Wolff said. "I've looked over the contracts and I think we'll be fine.

"I want the staff to have good working conditions, so I don't think we'll have any issues here."

The Fraternal Order of Police represents the staff at the Randolph County Jail. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) represents the sheriff's deputies.

Randolph County Commissioner David Holder previously said the unions were waiting until Wolff took office before beginning negotiations.

"The smoother things go and the calmer things are, the better we'll serve the county," Wolff said. "First and foremost, we've got a duty to protect the citizens."

Wolff said he recently attended a four-day class in Springfield sponsored by the Illinois Sheriffs' Association New Sheriff's Management Institute.

"Leadership classes, budget classes and the rules and statutes of the sheriff's office," said Wolff, on what the class consisted of. "It was just to familiarize yourself with the hours and duties of the sheriff's office, as well as jail standards."

The New Sheriff's Management Institute is held every four years after elections. Wolff is among more than 40 new sheriffs state-wide.

"We networked with the other sheriffs and they had a lot of sitting sheriffs there and they shared their experience with us," Wolff said of the training class. "We had a roundtable discussion and it will really help me get started."

Wolff said plans are to present Hoelscher with a plaque for his service prior to the outgoing sheriff's retirement on Dec. 31.

"We're going to present Mike with a retirement plaque," Wolff said. "He won't be on the road or on any capacity of working patrol, but he'll technically be on the books until Dec. 31.

"He's been very helpful in the transition and I'm grateful."

In regards to his initiatives, Wolff said he would like to conduct active shooter training at area schools and the courthouse.

"We have never done active shooter training or readiness drills for the courthouse," Wolff said. "That's high on my priorities."

As for White, he takes his new position after the Board of Commissioners had approved the 2015 budget. White is replacing Terry Moore, who is retiring after 26 years on the board, and a new board chairman in Marc Kiehna was elected.

"I think it's going to be a good transition," said White, who had attended the previous two meetings of the county board. "I've asked to be put on the agenda for this month's (Randolph County Progress Committee) meeting to help bring businesses and jobs to the county."

Jeffers takes over for outgoing treasurer Doyle "Zig" Jones and said he is looking forward to the challenge.

"The future is bright for the county as a whole," Jeffers said. "I think we can turn things around at all levels."

Jeffers said his first priority is to manage the office "as efficiently as humanly possible."

"I anticipate the first week will be going to various banks and getting my name on the accounts. Hopefully, at the end of the fiscal year, we will have money to give back."

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