Travis Buhnerkempe Announces Candidacy for Effingham County Sheriff in 2026 

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(TRAVIS BUHNERKEMPE)

Effingham County Chief Deputy Sheriff Travis Buhnerkempe has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Effingham County sheriff in 2026.

Buhnerkempe released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon:

My name is Travis Buhnerkempe and I would like to formally announce my candidacy for Effingham County Sheriff in the 2026 election cycle. I have had the distinct honor of serving the citizens and visitors of Effingham County for almost 20 years, as a member of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. Being elected Sheriff of this great Office would be the culmination of a wonderful career here.

I was born and raised in Effingham County, attended Unit 40 schools and graduated from Effingham High School in 2000. After high school, I continued my education at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale and received a Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice in 2004. While at SIU-C, I completed a 240-hour internship program with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.

I began my career at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Deputy in January 2006. I attended the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois, graduating with academic honors. Over the years, I was selected as a canine handler, Field Training Officer, Honor/Color Guard Unit member, and for several years was federally deputized by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a member of a commercial motor vehicle interdiction task force. During this time, I also graduated from the International Association of Chiefs of Police Drug Evaluation and Classification (Drug Recognition Expert) program.

I was promoted to Corporal in January 2016, assuming supervisory duties for my assigned patrol shift, then to Sergeant in October 2019. In June 2021, I was promoted to Lieutenant, assuming command of the entire Patrol Section, and joined Sheriff Paul Kuhns’ command staff. In May 2023, Sheriff Kuhns appointed me Chief Deputy Sheriff, where I was charged with the day-to-day administration of all sections of the Sheriff’s Office.

Since very early in my career, I have been an advocate for education and training opportunities, not only for myself, but for everyone in the patrol section. As I climbed the supervisory ladder, and my areas of responsibility grew, my voice for these opportunities became stronger and reached to other sections of the Sheriff’s Office. The most reliable constant I have witnessed in my law enforcement career is the ever-changing environment we face. To prepare for these changes, I believe having an aggressive and progressive training and education program is vital to the continued success of our Office. I am a firm believer in having well-trained and educated staff members in order to provide professional, competent and effective services to the citizens and visitors of Effingham County, no matter what section of the Sheriff’s Office a person has interaction with.

Additionally, upgrades in technology, equipment, facilities and programs assist employees in delivering the best services possible, as well as make the Sheriff’s Office a place people want to work. I am very fiscally conservative, but understand our personnel are the biggest investment we make. The ability to retain our people is vital in making sure the tax dollars expended to recruit, train and equip them is used most efficiently, and does not have to be repeated continually when people leave our Office.

Some of the projects I have been directly involved in since being a part of the administration at the Sheriff’s Office include:

 Updating the entire inventory of patrol rifles and pistols, including optics and flashlights

 Implementing Body Worn Cameras in both the Patrol and Corrections Sections

 Installation of a padded Safety Cell in the Effingham County Jail (paid for with ARPA funding)

 Purchase of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) and creation of a 3-pilot team to deploy the drone in various types of situations and emergencies

 Completing an overhaul and upgrade (the first in over 25 years) of the Sheriff’s Office based 911 Center (this project was completed ahead of schedule, under budget and funded partially with State of Illinois grant funds)

 Implementation of mental health services to inmates of the Effingham County Jail

 Ongoing implementation of a Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) program for inmates who are battling addiction (funded by Opioid Settlement funds)

 Revision of the menu options for inmates to expand the variety of items offered, while also reducing the overall meal cost per inmate

 Purchase of sanitization equipment and supplies to provide regularly scheduled, in-depth jail cell cleaning (paid for with federal and State of Illinois grant funding)

 Addition of a Deputy assigned to the Department of Children and Family Services (all costs paid for by DCFS) to facilitate a co-responder model for children-involved crimes

 In-progress remodel of the first floor of the Sheriff’s Office to create additional workspace for employees, while also increasing security measures for their safety while in the workplace (paid for by State of Illinois grant funds)

I am extremely proud, and honored, to be endorsed by the current and previous three Sheriffs of Effingham County, dating back to 1994: Sheriff Paul Kuhns (2021-current), Sheriff David Mahon (2014-2021), Sheriff John Monnet (2002-2014) and Sheriff Ron Meek (1994-2002). Knowing these four previously elected Office holders support and have confidence in me is very humbling. I also have the support and endorsement of the Sheriff’s Office employees who belong to FOP Unit #977.

I am respectfully asking for your support and vote on March 17, 2026 as the Republican choice for Effingham County Sheriff. Thank you!!