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Hart Running for R.I. County Sheriff

WVIK News

A year and-a-half before the election, the first candidate has entered the race for Rock Island County Sheriff. Monday a captain with the department, Darren Hart, made his official announcement.

A native of Hampton, Hart served briefly with the Rock Island and East Moline police departments before joining the sheriff's department in 1997. And most recently he's been in charge of the budget and administration.

"The reason I point out some of my career accomplishments and also current responsibilities within the sheriff's office is to make the case that I feel I am the most qualified individual to be the next sheriff of Rock Island County. I base those remarks on that for nearly the past 30 years I have dedicated my life to being a public servant."

He says it's Rock Island County's larged department, with more than 180 employees, and an annual budget of more than 14 million dollars.

"As the sheriff's office primary budget officer for the better part of the past five years I understand how critically important it is to remain responsible stewards of taxpayers' money that supports our entire operations. This includes personnel costs, equipment, supplies, and care and custody of incarcerated individuals."

Hart has held a variety of jobs for the sheriff's department including field training officer, school resource officer, and accident investigation, plus overseeing 911 dispatch and court security.

Just last Friday, current Sheriff Gerry Bustos announced he will not run for re-election next year.

A native of Detroit, Herb Trix began his radio career as a country-western disc jockey in Roswell, New Mexico (“KRSY, your superkicker in the Pecos Valley”), in 1978. After a stint at an oldies station in Topeka, Kansas (imagine getting paid to play “Louie Louie” and “Great Balls of Fire”), he wormed his way into news, first in Topeka, and then in Freeport Illinois.