Kent Martin
Republican · IL · Coles County Sheriff
Kent Martin has been Coles County sheriff since he was elected in 2022. He has worked in law enforcement since 1993, including 24 years with the Eastern Illinois University police, five of them as chief.
Where Kent Martin stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record)
Opposes
Gun Control (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Won county opioid settlement money to expand mental health care in the county jail to 20 hours a week. The jail had offered 6 hours a week when he took office.
March 9, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: colesco.illinois.gov
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 oppose
Refused to enforce Illinois's new assault weapons ban against lawful gun owners. He said the law broke the Second Amendment and did not make the county safer.
January 13, 2023Opposes Gun Control
Source: dailyeasternnews.com
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Rejected a county board member's call for local police to remove people living in the country illegally. He said state law (the TRUST Act) bars local help without a federal warrant, and said he was frustrated with that law.
October 29, 2025
Source: yahoo.com
Took the oath of office as Coles County sheriff after winning the 2022 election. He had been the Eastern Illinois University police chief.
December 1, 2022
Source: dailyeasternnews.com
Became chief of police at Eastern Illinois University, after serving as the campus police department's interim chief. He had been an officer there for 19 years.
September 1, 2016
Source: eiu.edu
Past race Kent Martin ran in:
- Coles County Sheriff · November 3, 2026 · Coles County, Illinois · incumbent