January 26, 2025
Local News

Whiteside sheriff won't seek re-election; Booker to run in 2018

Wilhelmi will retire after 30 years in department

MORRISON – Kelly Wilhelmi will not seek another term as Whiteside County sheriff in 2018, ending 10 years as the county’s top law enforcer.

But Wilhelmi, 55, told voters who they should select in the upcoming election – Lt. John Booker, 50.

Wilhelmi announced he will retire at the end of his term during a news conference Tuesday morning outside the Whiteside County Law Enforcement Center, where he also endorsed Booker.

"We talked about that probably the last
2 years," Wilhelmi said of Booker's bid for the position.

Wilhelmi has been sheriff since he was appointed in 2008 to finish out Roger Schipper’s term. When he retires, he’ll have been with the department for 30 years, serving as jail administrator before becoming sheriff.

Booker opposed Wilhelmi in his first election, in 2010, which involved some heated campaigning between the two. Wilhelmi said that’s all in the past.

“John and I put all of that behind us a long time ago; we got back to work,” Wilhelmi said. “This whole thing was a lot bigger than either one of us.”

Wilhelmi said Booker has become an integral part of the sheriff’s department.

Both Booker, a Democrat, and Wilhelmi, a Republican, echoed that the election should not be about a political party, but who is best for the job.

“I would welcome the chance to meet with anyone or any group of people and discuss my goals as sheriff of Whiteside County,” Booker said.

He said he will make it a point to continue the Safe Halloween program Wilhelmi created to monitor sex offenders on the holiday, and the department’s fishing derby, in which sheriff’s office personnel work with the young people in the county.

Booker was first hired by the department in 1998 and worked his way up the ranks as a patrol sergeant, detective and now lieutenant and commander of the county’s SWAT team. Previously, he served as an officer with the Rock Falls, Prophetstown, Erie, Morrison and Tampico police departments.