Sheriff: Republican Jack Hall, Democrat Rich Resendez vie for Lorain County Sheriff

Rich Resendez, a Democrat, and Jack Hall, a Republican, are squaring off Nov. 5 to be the next Lorain County sheriff. Hall is a veteran police officer who served with the Sheffield Police Department, the Avon Lake Police Department, the Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, the Medina County Sheriff's Office and the Westfield-Ohio Farmers Insurance Company Police Department. Among his many law enforcement jobs, Resendez was a Lorain police officer for 26 years, a captain at the Sheriff's Office for eight years and is now chief of operations overseeing administrative staff at the Lorain County Prosecutor's Office, where he has worked since 2021 and was formerly chief investigator. Voters will elect one of the two men to a four-year term. Whomever wins will be the first new elected sheriff in Lorain County in more than 20 years,after incumbent Sheriff Phil Stammitti, a Democrat, announced in September 2023 that he would not run for a seventh term when his current term ends Jan. 5, 2025. *** Jack Hall, 55 Party: Republican Education: post-graduate work at Tiffin University; Certfied Law Enforcement Executive, or CLEE; graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College, or PELC; bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Bowling Green University; graduate of Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst. Family: wife Joy, four adult children, one grandson. Job history: Medina County sheriff's deputy; founding member and police chief, Westfield-Ohio Farmers Insurance Company Police Department; captain of Special Operations, Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, 2007-2014; officer, sergeant and detective, Avon Lake Police Department, 1994-2007; Sheffield Police Department, 1990-1994. Web site: Jack M. Hall for Sheriff; Jack Hall for Lorain County Sheriff on Facebook. *** Rich Resendez, 67 Party: Democrat Education: FBI National Academy training course, 1998; associate's degree in criminal justice, Lorain County Community College; Southview High School. Family: married to Lori for 42 years, two sons. Job history: chief of operations/chief investigator, Lorain County Prosecutor's Office, 2021-present; part-time then full-time, Lorain County Drug Task Force, 2015-2021; part-time officer, Vermilion Police Department, 2012-2015; security manager, Horseshoe Casino, 2012; Management & Training Corporation private prison contract firm, 2011; captain, Lorain County Sheriff's Office, 2002-2011; cadet, corrections officer and police officer, Lorain Police Department, 1976-2002. Web site: Vote Rich Resendez for Sheriff; Rich Resendez for Sheriff. *** What makes you the best candidate for the position? HALL: I am the best candidate for Lorain County sheriff because I have an honorable work history of serving the public as a patrol officer, investigator, command officer and chief of police. The office of sheriff requires a leader who not only has basic operational experience but extensive knowledge of governance, budgeting, human resource management, diverse community engagement, emergency operations planning and rooting out public corruption. I have extensive knowledge of emergency radio communications networks and have worked tirelessly during my administrative career to build working relationships with all levels of first responders to serve their communities efficiently. RESENDEZ: Experience. I am the only candidate that has worked at the Lorain County Sheriff's Office and knows how the office operates. I have experience in both municipal law enforcement and county policing. Furthermore, my experience in corrections at both the county jail level and state level provide me with immediate insight on how corrections operate. Experience is not limited to law enforcement but on how the Lorain County government works and how to properly get things accomplished. My experience and longevity in Lorain County has been proven by my overwhelming support and endorsement by law enforcement and labor unions. What is the biggest challenge facing the Sheriff's Office and how would you address it? HALL: Although the staff has done a remarkable job of meeting state requirements to operate the jail, appropriate space is lacking to accommodate a safe environment for staff and inmates. A new facility, staffing/scheduling model and training/development program are required to facilitate a safe environment to remediate liability and lawsuits which face the county. I will work with our commissioners and residents to fund a new facility and create appropriate scheduling and staffing levels for a safe and professional work environment. I will implement a regimented training program to increase officer skill sets while reducing use of force incidents. RESENDEZ: The immediate and biggest challenge would be re-establishing the communication between the men and women of the Sheriff's Office and the administration. Also simultaneously working with the other county law enforcement agencies to jointly work together and bring resources together to benefit the cities and county residents. Further priorities would be lobbying the commissioners for further funding to add additional staff. We currently operate both the law enforcement and corrections division at a dangerously low number. Additionally, working with the commissioners on the new and efficient jail would be on the forefront. — Dave O'Brien