HOMER GLEN – Will County in Chicago's far south and southwest suburbs has over the last five years become the hope of Illinois Republican conservatives – a county with an active Republican organization led by dependable conservative leadership. The growing Will County Board conservative caucus hit a bit of a setback in 2018, when the Blue Wave swept Illinois – and the Democrats regained board control.
The current Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr (D-Elwood) says he will not run for re-election in 2020. State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and other Democrats filed to succeed Walsh. In addition, paperwork for the seat was filed by three Republicans – including Will County Commissioner Steve Balich.
From the Will County Election site:
Balich, however, told the Herald-News he wasn't the one that filed the paperwork, that someone else wanted him to run for the position.
Earlier this week, Balich sent out the following statement to news sources:
After meeting with Nick Ficarello Candidate for County Executive, I decided to pull out of the race. Nick is fiscally Conservative and not afraid to stand firm on moral and ethical issues. Nick believes in the Constitution, and will make an excellent administrator. I endorse Nick Ficarello for County Executive. He is the best person for the job.
Nick Ficarello recently served as Braidwood's chief of police. The Patch reports that as of 2015, he's been receiving a healthy pension after retiring from the Will County Sheriff's office:
Ficarello, according to the Taxpayers United of America website, was already collecting a Will County Sheriff's Office police pension of $120,044, as of four years ago, which made him the sixth highest paid pension recipient for Will County government at the time of the 2015 report.
One other Republican – Michael Messins – is listed as a potential candidate for the office in the 2020 March GOP primary.
