DARLINGTON - The Aug. 12 primary in Lafayette County will see two longtime law enforcement officials vying for the Republican nomination for Lafayette County Sheriff.
Jason King, 39, Darlington, has been police chief for the Darlington Police Department for eight years, and Reg Gill, 49, Cuba City, has worked for the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department for 15 years.
Sheriff Scott Pedley is not seeking re-election.
King and Gill both said the top issue they would work to address if elected is budgetary concerns.
Gill said he hopes to cut costs and be conscientious of taxpayer dollars.
"The biggest budgetary issue going into the future is our software within our dispatch," Gill said.
He said that if elected, he would seek ways to update their systems in the most cost-effective way without limiting their options in the future. He said there are always unpredictable expenditures like the ones that came with the exceptionally harsh winter this year.
"It has a huge effect on the budget, and something else has to give," he said.
Gill said he would seek out any means to help mitigate costs and hold on to the staff he has worked with and values.
"There are good people here, and it's an excellent county to work for," he said.
King echoed concerns over the budget. He said he would look for any grants made available to law enforcement. He also said he would look to an outside consultant to assess the sheriff's department and see where fat can be trimmed.
"They can look into our strengths and where our resources need to be utilized so we can do more with less," King said.
King also referenced equipment updates as an issue facing a new sheriff. He said with the help of grants and re-purposed resources there could be more room for improvements.
"I'm open to any ideas," he said.
With a lot of high profile, violent crimes committed across the state, many of them involving subjects with mental illness, law enforcement is usually the last to come into contact with those who have mental illness. Both candidates said they hope to encourage educators and business owners to recognize early warning signs of mental illness. Both said their working relationships with Lafayette County Human Services has been invaluable.
Gill said he would work to ensure sheriff's deputies are educated in mental illness and maintain strong contacts with Lafayette County Human Services.
"Human services is very aware of the feelings and opinions of law enforcement in these situations, and we work as a unit," He said.
King said dealing with emergency detentions of individuals who are a danger to themselves or others and need to be mentally evaluated is a very taxing issue for law enforcement.
"It's a huge drain on man-hours, but you can't ignore it. These people need help," he said.
Ralph J. Brown of Shullsburg Township is running as a registered write-in candidate as a Democrat for the office of sheriff.
Jason King, 39, Darlington, has been police chief for the Darlington Police Department for eight years, and Reg Gill, 49, Cuba City, has worked for the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department for 15 years.
Sheriff Scott Pedley is not seeking re-election.
King and Gill both said the top issue they would work to address if elected is budgetary concerns.
Gill said he hopes to cut costs and be conscientious of taxpayer dollars.
"The biggest budgetary issue going into the future is our software within our dispatch," Gill said.
He said that if elected, he would seek ways to update their systems in the most cost-effective way without limiting their options in the future. He said there are always unpredictable expenditures like the ones that came with the exceptionally harsh winter this year.
"It has a huge effect on the budget, and something else has to give," he said.
Gill said he would seek out any means to help mitigate costs and hold on to the staff he has worked with and values.
"There are good people here, and it's an excellent county to work for," he said.
King echoed concerns over the budget. He said he would look for any grants made available to law enforcement. He also said he would look to an outside consultant to assess the sheriff's department and see where fat can be trimmed.
"They can look into our strengths and where our resources need to be utilized so we can do more with less," King said.
King also referenced equipment updates as an issue facing a new sheriff. He said with the help of grants and re-purposed resources there could be more room for improvements.
"I'm open to any ideas," he said.
With a lot of high profile, violent crimes committed across the state, many of them involving subjects with mental illness, law enforcement is usually the last to come into contact with those who have mental illness. Both candidates said they hope to encourage educators and business owners to recognize early warning signs of mental illness. Both said their working relationships with Lafayette County Human Services has been invaluable.
Gill said he would work to ensure sheriff's deputies are educated in mental illness and maintain strong contacts with Lafayette County Human Services.
"Human services is very aware of the feelings and opinions of law enforcement in these situations, and we work as a unit," He said.
King said dealing with emergency detentions of individuals who are a danger to themselves or others and need to be mentally evaluated is a very taxing issue for law enforcement.
"It's a huge drain on man-hours, but you can't ignore it. These people need help," he said.
Ralph J. Brown of Shullsburg Township is running as a registered write-in candidate as a Democrat for the office of sheriff.