Dem candidate for Sangamon Co. Sheriff "re-enters" race

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Democratic candidate for sheriff in Sangamon County who told voters in early February he was dropping out has decided to re-enter the race, according to a Facebook post.

Marc Bell told supporters on Friday he reflected and reconsidered.

"I am announcing that I am re-entering the race for Sangamon County Sheriff," Bell said. "This race will not be decided by party labels. It will be decided by neighbors, families, and communities coming together around a shared belief that we can and must do better."

Tuesday's Primary Election featured two candidates on the Republican ballot, interim Sheriff Paula Crouch and retired deputy David Timm.

Crouch easily defeated Timm with 54 percent of the vote.

Bell, who's name was still on the ballot, was unopposed and gathered 11,676 votes.

That vote total, surpassed Crouch's - which totaled 9,256. However, both GOP candidates totaled more than 17,000 votes.

Bell's post announcing his re-entry indicated he may see a path to victory because of the vote differences. But, it's hard to know if voters who didn't vote for Crouch would support a Democrat or rally behind her in November's election.

"I want to think all of the voters who showed up and continued to support me," Bell said. "It was not just humbling, it was a clear signal. A signal that the people of Sangamon County are crying out for change."

In February, when Bell announced he was withdrawing his candidacy, he indicated the county's Democratic Party was not supporting him or providing resources to his campaign.

It's unclear if that has changed.