DANVILLE — A Vermilion County sheriff candidate who fought to get his name on the ballot has won that battle.
In a reverse ruling, the court sided with Vermilion County Sheriff Candidate, Hugh Sands.
“The court finds that the petitioner has completed all the necessary training required to run for Sheriff,’’ according to court records. “The decision by the board is reversed by the court, and the petitioner is allowed to be on the ballot.”
Judge Lindsay J. Starwalt presided over Friday’s proceedings.
In November, the Vermilion County Clerk Robyn Hefferman, said in a press release that Sands had been removed from the ballot following an objection filed on Nov. 12 by Vermilion County Board member, Jerry Hawker.
Hawker filed an objection due to state statute 55 ILCS 5/3-6001.5, which says a candidate seeking the office of sheriff must have “completed the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training Course.”
So, Sands filed a miscellaneous remedy to get back on the ballot.
And, Sands admitted during that time Hawker was correct in his training experience, but alluded to going through training if he acquired the position of sheriff.
“Obviously, things have changed in 10 years, and there’s some other mandated training that now that they have that they didn’t have when I was in it,” Sands said to the Commercial-News on Nov. 25. “I can’t find anywhere in the law that when you turn in a petition, you have to submit those qualifications. There is nothing that specifically says that.”
The Commercial-News reached out to Sands for comment following Friday’s ruling, but he had not responded at the time of publication.