Additional Information

We live in a beautiful area of the world. Many of us chose Whidbey and Camano Islands for not only their beauty, but for the rural community setting, a great place to raise families, a better quality of life, and a place to sink our roots into. 

I hear every day how much it is changing. Many are concerned that their quality of life is at risk. They are concerned that no one cares and that no one is listening. It’s time to change that by electing a Sheriff that will work for you. 

Public safety, mental health, drug addiction and abuse, and homelessness are the bulk of our daily calls. Because I’m in a patrol car I have a unique perspective of the issues our community, businesses, and our officers face daily in addressing these issues. 

Big city policies and politics don’t work the same for every county. You can’t apply the same program options and get that crystal slipper to fit unless its the right size. Some options don’t work the same in our rural communities because our resources are often limited. 

We have great people doing great things in the community and trying to make a difference, but the truth is, the challenge is greater than the support options. Services often work independently of each other and since they are disconnected there is no clear path for the individual seeking help. 

We are also challenged due to our geography and we keep trying to put things in locations where people cannot be helped successfully should they have an overdose or a mental health break down. We have seen a steady increase in homelessness, mental illness, theft, and substance abuse. We simply need to find a better approach in order to achieve success.

In Island County alone our budget for helping individuals has skyrocketed, yet we are growing programs and services and not addressing the underlying issues. This is a huge and concerning topic of our day, not just here but across our country.  Your deputies and police are continually exhausting resources for these challenging situations. It’s heartbreaking to see it grow rather than decline when we are spending a budget well into the millions in Island County. 

It’s time to ask ourselves, what can we do to help those who are suffering with these afflictions. I believe that we could pull our resources together through applying accountability, and by establishing and applying measurable outcomes.

We can’t stop the bleeding if we don’t know how to use a tourniquet. You can have a dozen on your person but if you don’t know how to use them you won’t be able to save the person when they need it the most. I say that because, "time is of the essence" and we must actively pursue accountable options.

Over my career I have dealt with thousands and thousands of mentally ill citizens.  Seeing this experience crushes your spirit but it also gives you the resolve to try to fix it. I will work tirelessly with mental health organizations and laws like “Joel’s Law” and “Sheena’s Law” to ensure that our citizens are treated with respect and dignity in seeking solutions.

If you are in administration in an office you often can't see the daily issues that need attention.  If you don’t see it, in some cases it just doesn’t exist. I am committed to bringing change as your next Island County Sheriff. I will often ride with our deputies for two reasons; so that I never forget where I came from, and secondly to keep my 'eyes' open to the needs of my community. 

Once elected I also plan to hold regular public forums to discuss private and business sector community concerns so that the Office of Sheriff can foster stronger engagement and trust in the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally the Sheriff’s Office is operating at below 2008 employment requirements and has been for the past 4 years. It was an issue when I ran in 2018 and nothing has changed. We continue to hire, train, and not retain because we are not competitive with salary and a few other reasons. We are wasting money and not fixing the problem so the cycle continues. 

Some employees are pulling mandatory 12-15 hour shifts just to have coverage. This is concerning, not only for the employees, but for the individuals we are caring for. We are only human. We can only do so much with human strength. I could go on but it would put our community and my fellow officers at risk to share, but if you want to know more I am open to speak one:one.

As your Island County Sheriff, I will address 21st century problems with 21st century solutions to improve the quality of life for all citizens in Island County. 

I have acquired a vast working knowledge of Federal, State, City and County agencies. Great administrators usually come from the bottom up. I have never stopped learning so taking on administrative duties will be no different. 

I will utilize what I have learned to better serve Island County through strong leadership and team building efforts. I will be a Sheriff that is visible and actively engaged with civic organizations, local businesses, public health services and you. It’s time to affectively implement change that can be measured within our communities.

The office of Sheriff is to protect and serve you, I will always stand for what is right and my office will be open to the community and local businesses. I am committed to make a difference for us all and to ensure our communities are safe and our quality of life protected.