My name is Jonathan Williams, I am 39 years old. I am the Democratic candidate for White County Sheriff. My family and I have always lived in White County. My wife Brandy is a manager. Our son Braxton is attending college studying Wildlife Management. Our daughter Haleigh attends Carmi-White County High School and wants to become a veterinarian.

I graduated from Carmi High School in 1997. I have a class A CDL from SIC. I have taken OSHA training through Indiana trust fund. I have been a member of the laborers for 21 years. I have been a foreman and crew leader for several companies throughout the years. I also drive semis for local farmers during my off-season when possible. I enjoy keeping in touch with my roots.

I am running for Sheriff to make White County a safer place for my family and all the citizens of this County. I feel that with new priorities and outlook I would set as Sheriff will put our community first and of the utmost importance. It’s important and imperative that the people understand that our state and great county have made it possible for regular people to be elected and do great things serving their community. The Sheriff’s position is an elected management position. When a Sheriff is elected, they are sent to Illinois FOP training regardless of their work background.

If elected, my main focus will be on the drug addictions, response time, child abuse and the homeless in our county. These problems didn’t just arise; they have been overlooked for far too long. Taxes are already maxed out. We need to get these repeat drug users in programs to treat their addiction. We need to get them the help they need, while also making them financially responsible for their actions instead of the taxpayers. We need to improve services while decreasing costs. Arresting people time after time at taxpayers’ expense is not working, nor is it going to yield any results. We need to work more closely with our drug court program, churches and support groups so the people get the help they need to become contributing members of society. I would like to make the jail a financially sustaining system, by making it a Pay to Stay jail or Per Diem jail. This type of system would put all commissary money into the general fund where it belongs. The County Board would set prices and fees, which must be paid upon release by the inmate or by working through the community service program. All of this works closely with the drug court treatment program, which can make employment a conditional requirement for release. We do not want to release people back into the community with a huge debt and no way to pay it.

I want my administration to work with the people of our community, making our department more accessible to everyone. I want my department to attend fundraisers and help set them up when possible. I want to bridge the gap between the department and our community. Nothing is more important than safety and taking care of our home together as a team.

“Fair to ALL, Partial to none”