McHenry Republican Bill Prim headed to sheriff's office

Nov. 05--For the first time in 17 years, McHenry County has a new sheriff.

William "Bill" Prim, of Cary, a retired Des Plaines police commander, was headed for victory with 60 percent of the vote, according to early election returns. As of late Tuesday, ballots from 98 percent of precincts had been counted.

Prim, a Republican who has most recently worked as a court security officer for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, faced James Harrison, who ran as an independent.

Prim released a statement late Tuesday, calling it a "tremendous experience" to "make it to the finish" in his first bid for elected office.

"I am once again in awe of the energy and the true grit of my supporters and volunteers. This was a grassroots working campaign composed of equal parts determination, shoe leather and Republicans ready to move in a new direction," he said. "Now that we see the voters of McHenry County approve and endorse that new direction, it will be full speed ahead on implementing our shared vision of an open, accountable and transparent sheriff's office."

Harrison, of Johnsburg, is a former special assistant state's attorney who represented the sheriff's office in civil employment matters. Harrison, also a former McHenry County sheriff's deputy, pledged to remove politics from the office -- a nod to the public feuding between former Sheriff Keith Nygren, who chose not to run again after 17 years in office, and State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Prim narrowly won the March Republican primary, which at the time reflected a split in the McHenry County GOP. Many elected officeholders in the county endorsed Undersheriff Andrew Zinke, who had worked under Nygren, the sheriff since 1997.

Bianchi endorsed Prim in the primary. He blamed members of the sheriff's office for helping to bring criminal corruption charges against him in 2010, though he was later acquitted.

Prim has lived in McHenry County for 22 years, according to his campaign.