Letter to the Editor:
As the primary election quickly approaches, I would like to voice my support for the re-election of Nick Petitgout as McDonough County Sheriff. Unfortunately, over the last nine months, Sheriff Petitgout and his family (please don't forget every candidate has a family) have had to endure countless attack ads and 'snip-its' from news stories that don't convey the entirety of the story or are still unresolved within the court system. The fact that Sheriff Petitgout has risen above this, has stayed respectful in his campaign throughout, and stayed the course should speak volumes to the McDonough County voters.
Knowing Sheriff Petitgout for some time now, I can honestly say that McDonough County will not find another candidate who 'lives' their job like Sheriff Petitgout does. I don't know if the common voter understands what this position can encompass. On any given day, outside of managing the Sheriff's office as a whole, the Sheriff might be working to balance his annual budget, working with jail staff to try and find help and accommodations for someone who is mentally unstable, helping a local farmer to secure loose cattle, managing the entirety of the courthouse renovations, or even assisting other municipalities in securing an assailant. Those items being just the tip of the iceberg, Sheriff Petitgout does it all with an exhausted smile on his face and returns to do it each and every day because he wants to be Sheriff, he cares about the position he was elected to do, and he never wants to let the constituents of McDonough County down.
Sheriff Petitgout has almost 20 years of experience at the county level, working his way up through the ranks over the years. He has done every job that he would ever ask anyone of his staff to do and would never ask them to do something he wouldn't do or hasn't done previously. Sheriff Petitgout has worked the graveyard shifts, managed the jail, encountered escalating situations, and found himself in circumstances where his life has been in danger. Sheriff Petitgout has been trained throughout the years by some of the best in their field, learning from hands-on, real-world experience, not just a three-day class to obtain a certificate.
I will close this letter by stating that if I or my family were in danger or in dire need of assistance, Sheriff Petitgout and his staff are the ones you want on the job every day, every night. It is a fact that no one will work as hard as Sheriff Petitgout to protect his community members and their families. There are no awards or pats on the head at the county level, only the community members looking at you in their times of need and Sheriff Petitgout can look each and every one of his community members in the eye and know he will do whatever it takes to protect and serve them and their families.
Jana Walker Blandinsville, Illinois
