How will McHenry County get a new sheriff?

Getting a new sheriff in McHenry County is now (mostly) out of the hands of the voters until November 2014. If Keith Nygren bails now (for example, if the Illinois Supreme Court refuses to hear Nygren's appeal of the Seipler re-hiring deal), then the County Board gets to pick the successor to Nygren.

Had Nygren left office sooner (perhaps 28 months before the next General Election (November 2014)), then the voters would have chosen a new sheriff in November 2012.

What's going to happen if Nygren bails?

Will the undersheriff be a shoe-in? Undersheriff Andy Zinke has already announced his candidacy for election in November 2014.

Some think it quite strange that Zinke would announce so far ahead of time. And some of those think it even stranger that Zinke would use a mailing address of one of Nygren's strongest financial supporters and one of the five members of the McHenry County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission, Brian Goode.

Nygren is already putting Zinke out in front as far as MCSD announcements. Is this for name recognition? Who cares, since it's not the public that chooses the mid-term successor?

What qualities should the County Board look for in a successor? Should it just shut its eyes and choose Nygren's right-hand guy?

With all the attention on Herman Cain's campaign and the type of issues being raised, should the County Board demand a squeaky clean successor to Nygren? Should the County Board make an exceptionally close inspection and evaluation of all available candidates to replace Nygren, if he bails out before the end of his election term?

Should the County Board take into consideration the welfare of the Department and the employees? Is morale important? Should the employees' opinions count, when the County Board makes its decision? How can the County Board learn factual information critical to their selection of the next leader of the Sheriff's Department and sort out those who might dislike likely candidates just for personal reasons, but not for professional reasons? And what about any professional reasons to do some careful sorting before the selection?

Who would be on the "short list" for appointment as Sheriff to succeed Nygren?