Why are you running for office?

To expose corruption and cowardice of current "leaders" in Goodhue County and to give citizens a choice of someone who isn't motivated by protecting his money and power but is willing to sacrifice himself or his career to protect others from corruption. Either I will be elected which will accomplish this or these "leaders" will think twice about doing anything like what they did again. To quote a Johnny Cash song, "what's done in the dark will be brought to the light" and if people remember this...even if they aren't "good" people...they may curb their corrupt behavior because of it.

What experiences have prepared you to serve effectively in this role?

23 years of service to the citizens of Goodhue County as a jailer, road patrol, bailiff, SWAT team member, school resource officer, civil process/transport deputy, Project Lifesaver Search/Rescue team member and leader, union steward...also being a husband, father, son, brother, farmer/rancher etc...basically 52 years of life experience.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

Ending corruption in Goodhue County, protecting citizens and deputies Constitutional rights, protecting my deputy’s minds, bodies and souls, fighting fraud and using taxpayer money conservatively and efficiently, combating fraud. Promoting cooperation and collaboration with other LEOs and agencies and not dividing them starting by keeping the RWPD at the LEC and not wasting Red Wing taxpayer money having to build another PD.

How do plan to address your top priorities?

Not be corrupt or a coward and call it out when it rears it's head. Full cooperation and collaboration with ICE and all other law enforcement agencies. I would deputize my deputies as immigration enforcement officers if feasible. Not enforcing unconstitutional, illogical mandates. Focus on fighting all types of fraud. Not wasting money. Hiring/promoting people smarter than me.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing the people you hope to represent?

Lies and deception of politicians and the media. Politician's use of careless and malicious rhetoric. Corruption and cowardice of "leaders" in our community. Deteriorating Constitutional rights. No justice. Unwarranted hate and division intentionally caused by politicians and the media. Fraud.

Public service requires collaboration. How would you work with individuals who hold different viewpoints?

Encourage them to look at hard facts and not just what their TV tells them to believe or to hate, use logic and reason and not use emotion or feelings in their decision making processes. Talk about things and keep an open mind...don't just do what you've always done or assume you know.

How will you communicate with and remain accessible to your constituents?

Phone, email, social media, in-person. Frequent updates on Sheriff's Office stats, programs, general news via social media and newspaper columns. Always open to suggestions.

At the end of your term, what accomplishments would define success?

That many people came to know Jesus because of me being Sheriff. That my courage was infectious. That deputies were no longer fearful to disagree with the Sheriff or to serve as Sheriff because the current Sheriff would intentionally destroy their careers and reputations just because they might run for the same office or supported another candidate. That I worked with politicians to modify current laws and made new ones to keep LEOs and citizens safer. That more law abiding citizens carried and people in general were more vigilant in preparing for crime and disasters and less dependent on the government. That Goodhue County had a reputation as a place that criminals and corrupt people wanted to steer clear of.

Tell voters something about yourself outside of politics.

I'm a Christian [Lutheran] and conservative...I once slept overnight on top of Mount Sinai in Egypt [yes the Moses one] in a sleeping bag and held a rifle with a launcher on it on the border of Israel and Lebanon that a soldier let me hold for a picture when I was a kid, I've raised cattle and chickens, made hay, I like to fix mechanical things, I went skydiving in Las Vegas, I like tent camping in the BWCA/Quetico, I recently lived in Montana for about 3 years but have lived most of my life in Goodhue County. I like 80's rock [think Def Leppard, Slaughter, Poison] and some early 90's grunge and like shows like Reacher or The Terminal List and the movie Falling Down and the Terminator series.