In one way, defeated treasurer, sheriff are grateful for the break

No elected official goes out to lose an election, but treasurer Bill Taylor and Sheriff Keith Kellerman say that while they will miss the work, at the same time, they won't miss it.

They certainly paid their dues during their respective three and four-term tenures.

Taylor, 58, has already filed for his Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension and believes that new opportunities will present themselves.

During an interview before the election he said that winning four more years and being able to retire at 62 would have been what he called "perfect." He planned to supplement his pension with farming--the great outdoors.

You have to understand the treasurer's job to understand why defeat is bittersweet. As tax collector, the questions and complaints are constant. Answering to the county board is constant and, on some days, the answer is simply: The money isn't there.

It is unspoken, but the county--like the cities of Du Quoin and Pinckneyville--face tough financial years next year and beyond.

They are all "tapped out" and it would take a monumental shopping spree at Walmart to begin to generate enough sales tax revenue to help matters.

So, the timing for Taylor may be better than he knows.

Taylor's IMRF pension will be blended with a reasonable state pension that he can't collect for another year.

Sheriff Kellerman is 54 and says he has enough years in to file for his pension, as well. He said some opportunities in his afterlife are already presenting themselves, but it's too early to elaborate.

His job--like work of some great teachers--is a grind, as well. "In a way, I'm glad its over," he told the newspaper earlier this week.

Despite any criticism from back benchers, the department does its job extremely well. But, the work is "all the time."

The police calls. The huge investigations like in the Sidnee Stephens murder case. The drugs. The demand for more patrols The personnel needs and issues. It just gets to you.

Kellerman says he is able to capture a pension and members of his family are involved in farming. The rest will play out in due time.

Something else that is unspoken is the fiscal emptiness which continues to be felt by the loss of County Clerk Kevin Kern, who served as the rudder and moral compass for everyone in the county.

He had an uncanny understanding of how government should work and how it should serve the people.

The bases are certainly covered, but all will tell you "it just isn't the same."

Kern resigned to become chief of staff for congressman Bill Enyart. Then, Enyart lost to Mike Bost only two years into his work. Very few have spoken to Kern since the election about his afterlife. But, be certain, he will have one.

There is always a new chapter, and for Perry County it includes a remarkable and determined Mary Jane Craft as treasurer and a very respected law enforcement officer in Steve Bareis as sheriff.

Taylor and Kellerman will be fine. At the end of the day, Perry County will be fine.