Root is seeking a third term and has served since June 2021. Beck is currently a deputy at the Sheriff's Office.

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Sitting Macon County Sheriff Jim Root is taking on write-in candidate Shane Beck in Tuesday's Republican Primary for Macon County Sheriff. Beck was taken off the ballot for not numbering his signature pages. There are no Democratic candidates.

Root is seeking a third term and has served since June 2021. Beck is currently a deputy at the Sheriff's Office.

Earlier this week, Beck filed a lawsuit in federal court against Root and Deputy Chief Matthew Jedlicka, claiming retaliation for running for the office.

Beck told WAND News before the suit was filed, "My life changed at the sheriff's department. Things became a little more ugly for me there. I've always been taught to put my best foot forward and just keep moving on. So I have, I've since lost some positions because of what I've done without this one, without explanation." When asked if he believed those actions were in response to his candidacy, he responded, "I do believe it's retaliatory, yes."

There has been an ongoing feud between Root and Beck supporters on social media.

Root said his resume speaks for itself when stacked up against his opponent.

"I've been with the sheriff's office for 30 years. I've managed to work my way through the ranks by being promoted by multiple sheriffs throughout this. So they obviously saw something in me that I have the ability to lead this department, opposite of my opponent who has not moved through the ranks. And it's not because we expire lists or anything like that. That's all false information," Root told WAND News.

Beck became a deputy later in life at 40 years old, leaving a management position at Speed Lube.

"I love helping people, and basically, I was at a spot in my career with Speed Lube where retirement was something that was coming forefront on me because I'm raising two children. Just found out about a third child," Beck said. "So I knew that going into something like that, you got the retirement plan, and I would be helping people."

Root has been in law enforcement for over three decades, and says there's still more he wants to do. He was asked why he wanted to run for a third term.

"There's some things that probably still need to be done, I haven't been able to accomplish in six years," Root said. "There's always new technology, new projects. When it comes to that and getting the best of the best of what our employees can use. So, we'd like to work to get some of that stuff implemented and move on with. Not really a great question, but, yeah."

One of Beck's biggest points is regarding transparency.

"I don't feel he has been the most transparent person in the world," he told WAND News. "I think there's things that have proven it. But ... if something happens, like we had the guy that got the DUI here recently, I would have been that sheriff that stood behind that podium and explained anything that we would have done wrong, anything we could have done better."

Beck was referring to the arrest of Andrew Ziegler for DUI in December.

Root stated he's as transparent as he can be.

"We provide any information that anybody wants. I have an open-door policy for the public. If they want to come in and have a conversation, I'd be more than happy to have that conversation. But there's some information that you just cannot provide to the general public because there is an expectation of privacy for some of the people that we deal with."

Root said he wants to continue to implement new technology if re-elected.

"We just implemented a new records management system that went into effect in November. There's some other projects we need to refresh some of our in-car camera systems. That's those are starting to become obsolete. Those are things that basically will become obsolete after so many years of being in service. So we want to make sure that we get the best of the best of that technology in place," Root said. 

Root's final message to voters ahead of Election Day was, "My experience. Like I said, I've proven myself through multiple sheriffs, through moving up through the ranks. I've [run] this office for the past five years. I think my proven leadership gives me the advantage of running the office. And I think that the public should give me another term."

As for Beck, he said, "I want to leave a legacy behind ... where people say this guy came in, he said he was going to do this, and he did it. And that's the type of person I am because if I fail, I'm the failure. And if my guys fail, I'm still the failure, and I'll work with those guys to make it to where they don't fail again. We're going to do the best we can."

The primary election is on March 17.

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