Peoria County Sheriff Brian Asbell made his candidacy official Mon.
Asbell is filling out the remainder of the term, vacated by Mike McCoy over the summer. McCoy says Asbell is the best possible person for the position.
“It’s not a job for somebody who doesn’t know what they are doing," McCoy said.
McCoy left the job to take the police chief position in Washington, Illinois.
Asbell says while he spent more than a decade as undersheriff, he underestimated the job.
“I thought I knew what this job entailed. I was wrong. There is so much more involved when you sit in that number one seat. You have to work with all the units within the sheriff’s office," Asbell said. "And it’s a balancing act. It’s a juggling act every day.”
The sheriff’s department is the largest agency within county government. The agency’s responsibilities include running the jail, patrolling nearly 650 miles, securing the courthouse and airport as well as serving official court documents.
So far, Asbell is unopposed in his run for the Republican Party nomination. Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel is running for the Democratic nomination for Peoria County Sheriff. Both men have about two decades of law enforcement experience including significant time in management.