JOHNSON CO., Ill.—The Democrat Party in Johnson County has selected their candidate for sheriff to replace the man who died shortly after the March 18 Primary election this year.
Norman Suits, of Vienna, was chosen to replace Jay Merchant, who died of an apparent heart attack a week after the Primary, at age 57.
Merchant had won the Dem nod and would have faced the Republican pick, Charles Harner, on the ballot in November.
The present Johnson County sheriff, Elry Faulkner, opted not to run for another term after serving 40 years as sheriff in the deep-downstate county.
Suits, like Merchant, had worked in the Illinois Department of Corrections for 30 years, retiring two years ago from his position as site superintendent at Dixon Springs Boot Camp.
Democrat Party officials in Johnson County have told local media that they are very pleased that Suits accepted the nod.