Robertson wins Democratic primary for Knox County Sheriff

James Robertson, seven-year police chief for the Village of Williamsfield, has announced his candidacy as a Democrat in the 2022 race for Knox County Sheriff.
James Robertson, seven-year police chief for the Village of Williamsfield, has announced his candidacy as a Democrat in the 2022 race for Knox County Sheriff.

GALESBURG — James Robertson has unofficially won the Democratic primary for Knox County Sheriff by 91 votes.

Robertson won a total of 1,218 votes in Galesburg and Knox County. His opponent, Doug Sampson, won a total of 1,127 votes in Galesburg and Knox county.

Robertson will go on to face the Republican candidate for Knox County sheriff, Jack Harlan, in the Nov. 8 general election along with the qualifying independent candidates. Harlan was unopposed Tuesday.

Robertson, 48, is currently the chief of police for Williamsfield and a sergeant for the Galva Police Department. He first joined the Knox County Sheriff’s Department Auxiliary in 1997 and has worked as a police officer for East Galesburg, a Knox County corrections officer and union president.

Robertson won 791 votes in Galesburg and 427 votes in Knox County. Sampson won 670 votes in Galesburg and 457 votes in Knox County.

Sampson, 50, was a road deputy for the Knox County Sheriff’s department from 1995 to 2017 and the EMS coordinator for Cottage Hospital from 2017 to until 2022. Sampson has also worked as Knox County court security and a part-time officer in Abingdon, Alexis and Yates City.

Democratic candidates for the position of Knox County Sheriff are  Douglas Sampson, left, and James Robertson.
Democratic candidates for the position of Knox County Sheriff are Douglas Sampson, left, and James Robertson.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Robertson wins Democratic primary for Knox County Sheriff