A retired police officer once shot by a robber has filed to run as a Democrat against incumbent La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton, a Republican.

Since neither man is opposed in the Feb. 2 general primary election, they will face each other at the general election in November of 2010.

Rodney Hampton, 53, is retired as a sergeant with the College of DuPage Police Department.

He has lived approximately midway between Sheridan and Leland at 2194 North 4350th Road, for the past several years, having moved there from Lombard.

Hampton could not be reached for comment by press time.

Local Democrats say he is not active with the La Salle County Democratic organization.

Voter records at the La Salle County Clerk's Office show Hampton has voted as a Republican in two primary elections but never as a Democrat.

La Salle County Democratic Chairman Rocky Raikes told The Times he has met Hampton only one time and did not know him well.

"He believes in wanting to run. He thinks he could do a good job," Raikes said.

County Board Member Tom Walsh, D-Ottawa, who signed Hampton's petition, said he also had only met Hampton one time.

Hampton's nomination papers showed he had circulated nearly all his own petitions and obtained signatures from throughout the county.

According to press reports, on Dec. 1, 2002, while Hampton was off duty, he observed from his Lombard home what he thought was a fight between two men outside a nearby bank.

It turned out to be the armed robbery of a bank courier by a Broadview man.

The robber fired three times at Hampton, who was unarmed, shooting him twice in his left leg. The robber was quickly nabbed and later sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In the primary election, there will be only one contested race in County Board District 2, where Republicans Stephen Carlson, now on the County Board, and Joanne McNally, both of Mendota, will face off.

Other candidates are:

• Regional Superintendent of Schools: Democrat James E. Carlson of Ottawa.
• County Clerk: incumbent Democrat JoAnn Carretto of Marseilles.
• County Treasurer: incumbent Republican Don Lamps of La Salle.
• District 3: Republican Steven Tuftie of Earlville.
• District 6: incumbent Democrat Robert "Bob" Greenwalt.
• District 10: Republican Robert Vickrey and incumbent Democrat Art Rigby Jr., both of Peru.
• District 11: incumbent Democrat Joe Savitch of La Salle.
• District 13: incumbent Republican Susan J. Thornton of Ottawa and Democrat Joe Panzica of La Salle.
• District 16: incumbent Democrat Tom Ganiere and Republican David Smith, both of Ottawa.
• District 17: incumbent Democrat Lou Anne Carretto and Republican David Smith, both of Ottawa.
• District 18: incumbent Democrat Tom Walsh of Ottawa.
• District 19: incumbent Democrat Jerry Hicks of Marseilles.
• District 22: incumbent Democrat Rick Scott of Ottawa.
• District 23: incumbent Republican Arratta Znaniecki of Ottawa.
• District 25: incumbent Republican Jerry Myers of Streator.
• District 26: incumbent Democrat Ronald Dittmer of Streator.