McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout has announced he intends to seek a third term as sheriff, again running on the Republican ticket.
Petitgout, who was recently elected president of the Illinois Sheriffs Association, told The Community News Brief Friday he will be seeking another four-year term. He was appointed sheriff in Spring 2018 and was elected sheriff the same year. Petitgout was re-elected to the position in November 2022 after he won 69 percent of the vote against independent candidate Mark Clark.
The primary election will be held March 17, 2026, with the general election to follow Nov. 3. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) veteran began his law enforcement career as a McDonough County Sheriff's Office Deputy in 2007. He told the Community News Brief that his platform, which has been the same for each election, is to continue to solve crimes and ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
"I'm extremely proud of our office's commitment to our communities, our resiliency in the face of adversity and the transparency we put forward in everything that we do," he shared. "I'm also proud of the solid relationships we've built with the Macomb Police Department, Illinois State Police, the Office of Public Safety, the McDonough County Board and State's Attorney's Office and many other agencies and organizations."
Petitgout also pointed out such accomplishments during his time in office including the recent major renovation of the McDonough County Courthouse, which now has a secure entrance to help ensure the safety of employees and visitors; the addition of Deputy Dave Burnham as the school resource officer for the West Prairie School District and the department's fiscal responsibility and accountability.
Petitgout, who was born and raised in Galena, IL, served in the USMC from 1999-2004. Following an honorable discharge, he attended Western Illinois University where he received his degree in law enforcement and justice administration in 2006. He joined the McDonough County Sheriff's Office as a deputy in 2007, was promoted to detective one year later and named the chief deputy in 2015 before being appointed, then elected, to the sheriff's post.
"I look forward to continuing my work to serve the people of McDonough County," he added. "I truly enjoy being your sheriff and I appreciate the trust and support that the citizens of this region have given me over the past 19 years with the Sheriff's Office."
To date, Petitgout may face at least one contender for the elected county job. Around 8 p.m., Sunday, June 23, Deputy Evan Schmalshof, who also serves as the part-time police chief for the Village of Blandinsville, announced his candidacy for McDonough County Sheriff via a Facebook page post. Schmalshof did not declare a political affiliation in his initial announcement; however, he recently commented on his campaign page he will be running as a Republican.
