Who is Better Qualified to be Sheriff?

Dear Editor,

It is my understanding that a sheriff needs more skills in management than in law enforcement. According to Dan Taylor, who was a sheriff here for many, many years, a good sheriff has to be able to manage the jail, dispatch, civil department, coroner, search and rescue, and is an officer of the District Court. True Joe Horn has 27 years law enforcement experience, but when in the Sept. 19 Courier the question was asked of him, what is the largest budget you have been in charge of, Horn said he’s never been in charge of a budget, except his own personal checking account. But he promises he will be an active sheriff, spending more time patrolling than administering, and that having a strong undersheriff would be essential in handling the office tasks required. I struggle with this comment because it sounds like he wants a strong undersheriff to do the sheriff’s duties. It has been said that to be a good sheriff you must be a good manager.

Tom Boyer is a graduate of the Montana Law Academy and has had two years experience with the Valley County Sheriff’s Department. Tom, however, has had five years of management experience dealing with employees and the public as well as over 10 years experience with crisis situations than most sheriffs get in their term of service. This experience would be handy in search and rescue situations as well as other crises that might occur.

Before you vote, please do research to find out for yourself if these facts are true. I would say that Tom Boyer not only has law experience but he is the only one that has managing experience. It has been said that Joe Horn has a pleasant personality but that doesn’t make up for managing experience.

Sincerely,

Karen Bender