Dan Jungles Issues Statement After Will County Sheriff's Primary Defeat In Democratic Primary

JOLIET, IL — Approximately 23 hours after the voting polls closed on Tuesday, Will County Undersheriff Dan Jungles issued a statement on Facebook, offering his reaction to his Tuesday night defeat at the hands of Will County Sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Jones in the Democratic primary.

Jungles had the endorsement of retiring three-term sheriff Mike Kelley, but a number of people employed at the Will County Sheriff's Office have told Joliet Patch that people are fed up with Kelley and that in recent years, Kelley has spent an extraordinary amount of time vacationing in Florida, especially during the winter months.

"While the outcome of the primary election was not what we had hoped for, I am incredibly proud of the campaign we ran," Jungles announced Wednesday evening on his Facebook campaign page. "I am especially grateful to my campaign committee and volunteers. Their tireless dedication and belief in our vision made this campaign something truly meaningful.

"Although this chapter of the campaign has come to a close, my service to the residents of Will County continues. As Undersheriff, I remain fully committed to supporting the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office by ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to serve our community safely and effectively. In the last two months, I have secured more than $1.8 million in grant funding for the Sheriff’s Office. One of these grants will help launch a peer support program and implement regular mental health check-ins for our deputies. Supporting the wellness of our personnel is not just important, it’s essential.

"It has been an honor to run this campaign, and I look forward to continuing to serve Will County with dedication, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to those who wear the badge and the community we all care about."

In November, Sgt. Jones will go up against Will County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Reilly, who won the Republican primary by a margin of three to one against his little-known challenger, Justin Fialko.