A former assistant prosecutor will return after she was fired earlier this year. County voters also picked a new sheriff -- and it's not the undersheriff.
St. Joseph County Voters Decide
St. Joseph County, in Southwest Michigan, will have a new county prosecutor and sheriff in 2025, determined by the voters in the recent primary election.
Deborah Davis Victorious
Fired assistant prosecutor Deborah Davis won the prosecutor’s race, defeating her former boss and one other challenger. In the sheriff’s race, Chad Spence emerged victorious over the undersheriff and three other candidates.
Clear Path to November
With no Democrats running for either position, Davis and Spence are set to win in November unless there are any write-in campaigns.
Sheriff Mark Lillywhite's Departure
Current Sheriff Mark Lillywhite, who was elected in 2020, chose not to seek a second term after his guilty plea for drunk driving in 2023.
Voter Turnout
Chad Spence secured 49.29% of the votes in the sheriff's race, with Jason Bingaman, the undersheriff, coming in second with 30%.
Background of Chad Spence
Spence, a 50-year-old with a degree in criminal justice, spent 25 years in various roles within the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office before retiring.
Deborah Davis's Journey
Davis, raised in Centreville, holds a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, having passed the bar in 2007. She previously faced allegations leading to her firing.
