Pete Bensinger Sheriff

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Republican Peter “Pete” Bensinger unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in 1974 against Democratic incumbent Richard Elrod. Prior to running for Sheriff, Bensinger was the director of the Chicago Crime Commission, and served as the Chairman of the Illinois Youth Commission. He was also the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections under former Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie. Despite losing the campaign to Elrod, Bensinger went on to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) from 1976 to 1981. He was appointed to the position by President Gerald Ford, and continued in the role under both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. In 1982, Bensinger founded the private professional services company Bensinger, DuPont & Associates. He currently serves as the company's President and CEO.