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St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman filed paperwork last week, making official his candidacy for sheriff.
Voters will choose from a growing field of contenders in the August 2024 primary election to succeed Mark Lillywhite, who is not seeking re-election. Bingaman joins Dennis Allen, Chad Spence and his cousin, Joe Bingaman, as candidates for the role.
Bingaman said he expects few people will be surprised to hear news of his intentions, as he has been with the Centreville-based agency for 15 years, serving as undersheriff since January 2021.
The 51-year-old Bingaman said his day-to-day knowledge of the sheriff’s office and overall understanding of its operations from 2008 through today are assets that other candidates do not have.
Bingaman’s previous law-enforcement experience was at agencies in Decatur, Constantine, White Pigeon and a nine-year stint in Three Rivers before joining the sheriff’s department.
He is a high school state-champion wrestler for Mendon High School, and a four-time collegiate All-American and a member of the Lake Superior State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
