SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell announced his retirement last week after calls to resign for his hiring of now former Deputy Sean Grayson. 

Grayson is being charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the death of Sonya Massey. Sangamon County Board Member Sam Cahnman says the board didn't have the power to push Campbell out of office, but should in the future. 

He wants to add a new advisory referendum to the November ballot which asks "Shall Illinois adopt recall for elected officials?"

"The county board doesn't really have any power, we can't recall the sheriff,: said Cahnman. "He's an elected official and under current law he could have continued to serve in the in that office till the end of his term in 2026." 

Cahman did say that Sheriff Campbell overall had few issues as a sheriff, except when it came to hiring. But, that hiring mistake, was fatal. 

"The sad reality is that had Sheriff Campbell not hired the totally seriously flawed Sean Grayson, Sonia Massey would still be with us," said Cahnman. "We want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

In addition to adding the referendum, Cahnman wants to change the way the county hires law enforcement. He says the county needs a new company to do psychological evaluations because they should have recognized Grayson was not capable of being an officer. 

He also wants the County Board Chairman, who is responsible for appointing a new sheriff, to create a committee to help decide who will take over as Sangamon County Sheriff. He wants this to include current and former law enforcement, Democratic and Republican board members, and members of Sonya Massey's family.

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