Democrats hope coroner candidate will ‘do or Dye’

So Rick Stone has decided that at age 70, after 34 years as coroner, that it is time to retire.

So who do the Democrats pick as the heir apparent? A spring chicken of 67, Calvin Dye.

Other than the obvious appeal and potential national exposure from electing a coroner named Dye, why would the party go with someone whose potential longevity in the job is so limited? There will be no Stone-like dynasty, unless the intent is that he be a placeholder for a term.

And why would a guy who already has 40 years of public service as an Illinois State Police trooper, as a bailiff and as a state’s attorney’s investigator want to take on the gruesome task of being called out in the middle of the night to handle crashes or Auntie Bertha’s body after she hadn’t been seen for all of July?

Well, the reality is that the coroner doesn’t do the nasty stuff; the deputies do that. And it’s a pretty cush job that rarely finds him in the office after lunch and will boost that pension.

The Democrats’ candidate may be a great guy who is well qualified for the job. As to his motives for starting a new job when he’ll be 68, we guess his motto is “never say Dye.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Democrats hope coroner candidate will ‘do or Dye’."