Sheriff’s Candidate Smith Drops Bid to Get on Ballot, May Still Run as Write-in

Independent sheriff's candidate Jerommie Smith of Sidney says he's dropping his bid to get on the November ballot in Champaign County.

Smith's petition signatures have been under review by the Champaign County Election Board, after a challenge was filed. He says they had reached a point where he was 25 to 35 signatures under the 42-hundred-and-8 needed to make the November ballot. And Smith says he didn't think a continued review of his petitions would find enough signatures to meet the threshold.

The 38-year-old Smith says he's disappointed, but hasn't given up yet.

"There's other avenues where we can continue to go", says Smith. "(The ballot petitions) show there was that many people who wanted to see a choice, and I'm glad I was able to present that to them. And now we're going to look at other options. One may be running as a write-in."

Smith has said previously he would run a write-in campaign if he couldn't get on the ballot. He says he'll make the final decision this weekend. Smith is challenging the incumbent sheriff, Republican Dan Walsh. Smith is a former sheriff's deputy, who now operates the Truly Fit gym in Urbana.