Retired Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Smith announced that he will run on the Republican ticket for Madison County Coroner in 2024, with Former Congressman John Shimkus chairing the campaign.
“I consider the position of coroner to be a calling, not a job,” Smith stated.
Smith worked in the Madison County coroner’s office for 32 years, serving as chief deputy coroner for the last 11 years before retiring in 2021.
Since retiring, Smith has maintained his national death investigator certification.
He uses his experience to train coroner personnel for the Illinois Coroner Training Board. He also serves as a consulting to the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System and the Statewide Unintentional Overdose Reporting System.
“He sees it as his responsibility to earnestly seek the truth surrounding an individual’s death and to support the family and loved ones through the difficult moments of their lives,” his campaign website states. “Smith promises to serve with honor, dignity, and respect for the citizens and taxpayers of Madison County.”
Smith announced Monday that Shimkus will serve as committee chair for his campaign.
“I am positively ecstatic to have Congressman Shimkus take on this leadership role in my campaign,” Smith stated. “He is a West Point graduate, retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army Reserve, served as our Madison County Treasurer, and then he went to Washington and represented the interests of all Madison County residents so very well. Even now, he continues to serve by being an educator and mentoring the next generation.”
“These are the same qualities and values of leadership, constantly striving for improvement, and - most importantly - the commitment to service of our community I will assure are present in the Office of Coroner,” he added. “I am honored and ever so grateful for his support.”
Shimkus said he supports Smith after having known him for nearly 30 years.
“He is everything we would want in our coroner - experienced, qualified and compassionate.”
Shimkus also applauds Smith on his vow to forgo a pension if elected.
“Roger Smith has also promised to suspend collecting his IMRF pension and will decline to participate in the pension system as the elected coroner,” Shimkus said. “I believe this shows a respect for the taxpayers and also shows what a decent, honorable person Roger Smith is.”
According to Smith’s campaign website, he pledged that he would not collect a pension if elected because he “respects the taxpayers and does not want to burden them with extra expenses that are not necessary.”
Smith is a lifelong resident of Madison County and grew up in Granite City. He currently resides in rural Madison County with his wife of 27 years, Circuit Judge Amy Maher.
Smith previously worked with the Troy Police Department and the Pontoon Beach Police Department.
He also trained as an EMT and served with Campbell Ambulance Service and Laughlin Funeral Home & Ambulance Service.
Smith attended coroner's training courses as well as various medical training courses through the Illinois Department of Public Health, St. Louis University School of Medicine, Texas A & M University, the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the University of Florida, among others.
His website states that he has undergone more than 1,000 hours of additional training in death investigation, public health and safety, law enforcement, and emergency management topics.
Smith is a member of the National Rifle Association, Illinois State Rifle Association and St. Michael the Archangel Parish.