I Support Joe Horn

Dear Editor,

As a former Valley County Sheriff, rancher and 3rd generation Valley County resident I'm greatly concerned with the direction our Sheriff's Office is going. That is why I am supporting Joe Horn.

With all the loss of experience the Sheriff's Office is confronting (losing 3 or more of their most experienced officers) we need to elect a Sheriff with experience, training and street sense. Joe's 27+ years of actual law enforcement experience is going to be badly needed with all the challenges facing the Sheriff in the next couple of years.

"Street smarts" in law enforcement is gained in only one way – by working the street, doing investigations, and having years of experience with differing law enforcement situations and agencies. Joe is the only candidate for Valley County Sheriff with that experience and common sense that comes from years of working the job.

I met Joe's opponent, Tom Boyer, and he seems like a nice guy – but doesn't have the experience I believe that is necessary to handle the job.

As one of my former Deputies noted to me: "Taking a rookie Deputy and putting them in the Sheriff's position would be just like taking a first year teacher and the next year putting them in the Superintendent's position and expecting them to be able to run the whole school District." It just isn't the wisest choice.