The handpicked successor to the outgoing Marion County sheriff, Kerry Forestal, has been endorsed by Democratic Party leaders and has raised over 10 times more money than his challenger, Gregory Patrick, in the May Democratic primary. Patrick, who has worked for the sheriff's office full-time since 2011, argues that the next sheriff should not be an "insider" but should continue the office's legacy. While Patrick, however, acknowledges that the last two decades have seen positive changes, Williams aims to continue this momentum. He plans to increase wages and offer new benefits to retain deputies who can earn more in surrounding counties. Williams also plans to train officers to better serve inmates with mental illness or substance abuse issues and establish partnerships with schools to help "break the school-to-jail pipeline." Both men share views about the law enforcement's partnership with federal immigration and deportation efforts.