Lake County’s Democratic Party chairman confirmed this week there have been behind the scenes machinations among some in the party for a possible caucus succession plan in the event of a felony conviction of Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr.
Martinez is facing Level 6 felony resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor reckless driving charges stemming from a Sept. 18, 2021 incident when Crown Point police officers allege that they tried to pull over a black SUV, driven by Martinez, on Taft Street going “well over” the 45 mph speed limit. He has a Feb. 12, 2024 trial date where he will face Special Judge Jeryl Leach. A hearing is scheduled Sept.
Jim Wieser, chairman of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, confirmed that if Martinez were to be convicted, the scenario would be the supposed chain of events.He said he could not confirm whether the plan was true or if it would move forward in the event Martinez were out of the picture. “I know people are talking about me. I want you to know I’m not talking about it. I think Oscar’s a really great sheriff. I’m sad about the whole thing,” McDermott said, adding he has not talked to Repay, Hamm or Woerpel about any replacement plan.
“I believe in Oscar’s innocence. I support him as sheriff. I think it is a travesty what has happened,” McDermott said.“I will just respond by taking creative liberty with the old Mark Twain line — ‘the rumors of Sheriff Martinez’s political demise are greatly exaggerated’,” Stracci said. “I haven’t spoken about it. I certainly haven’t spoken about it with those individuals,” Repay said. “If there was some sort of plan, you would think I would need to be involved in it,” Repay said.The commissioner said he has an election of his own to prepare for and that is what he is doing.
“If this is something somebody’s cooking up, I don’t want any part of it. There’s just no truth to it,” he said.
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