Democrat voters will not see a candidate for Madison County Sheriff on the ballot for the primary election June 28, ending an era of that political party's dominance of countywide offices.
Instead, two "Jeffs" on the Republican ticket will seek to succeed Sheriff John Lakin, Democrat, who is retiring in December after serving in the position since the 2014 election.
Major Jeff Connor of Granite City, currently serving as Madison County Chief Deputy Sheriff, says the position requires experience.
"With 35 years of experience in law enforcement and a lifelong resident of Madison County, I believe I am the best qualified and a highly skilled candidate for this elected office,” Connor said when he announced his candidacy last April.
Connor will have 36 years of experience in law enforcement at the time of the election. His career began when he first became a police officer with the Granite City Police Department. He now seeks to serve as sheriff with “experience, dedication, transparency.”
Connor told the Record that the Sheriff’s Department is a bipartisan office. However, he explained that while he has always been a Republican and has been working in a Democratic office, he believes political affiliation should not be a focus.
“I honestly don’t think this office should be based on your political party, but the law says it is,” he said.
Connor also serves as the Commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
He earned a master of science degree in criminal justice from Lindenwood University. He also attended the FBI National Academy, session #244, at the FBI campus in Quantico, VA.
Jeff Larner of Edwardsville announced his intention to run for Sheriff days after Connor said he would run for the seat.
Larner is a Marine Corps veteran with more than 10 years’ service in law enforcement and 25 years of executive global security experience with two large multi-national organizations, his announcement stated.
He is currently CEO of a security and risk consulting firm, Larner Security & Risk Solutions, LLC.
When he announced he stated, "With record and unsustainable budget increases over the past four years totaling more than $2.3 million, Madison County needs a sheriff that understands not only how to keep our neighborhoods safe, but also how to administer the department.
“State government continues to pass anti-police legislation, making it harder to find and retain officers. My combination of law enforcement and business experience will allow me to provide support for our deputies on the street and working in the jail while providing value for the $16 million annual department budget. Now is the time for bold and experienced leadership, and that’s what I bring to the table.”
Larner says he is a “lifelong Republican and protector of citizens’ constitutional rights, especially the Second Amendment.”
He is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Springfield with a bachelor’s in Social Justice, the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, the University of Louisville’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Program, and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Georgetown University’s Senior Executive Leadership Programs. He is a member of the Southern Illinois Police Chiefs’ Association and former member of the FBI’s Springfield Illinois Business Working Group, a public-private partnership between businesses and federal law enforcement.