Democrats Rich Resendez, Rick Thomas receive endorsements in 2024 Lorain County sheriff's race

The two Democratic candidates who are seeking to replace retiring Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti in 2024 recently announced endorsements for their campaigns. Duane Whitely, former Elyria police chief and now commander of the Lorain County Community College Police Academy, has endorsed Democrat Rick Thomas in 2024. "Rick has the experience necessary to fulfill this position and I trust him to serve our Lorain County community," Whitely said in a statement from the Thomas campaign. Whitely recently succeeded Thomas as commander of the LCCC police academy. Thomas will face fellow Democrat Rich Resendez in the March primary. Resendez recently announced that the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees has endorsed his campaign for sheriff. "I am very proud and appreciative of their support," he wrote on his campaign's Facebook page. "I take this endorsement with great pride as the son of a steelworker who worked for 33 years at United States Steel in Lorain." The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Jack Hall, a veteran Lorain County police officer, in the November 2024 election. Stammitti, who has been sheriff since 2000, announced earlier this year he would not run for reelection in 2024.