Hanson County sheriff race heats up

ALEXANDRIA — In fewer than three weeks, a contentious race pitting the Hanson County sheriff against his former deputy will be decided by voters.

Sheriff Mark Kessler and former deputy Randy Bartlett are vying for the Republican nomination for the office on June 8. The winner will likely become the next sheriff and take office in January, because no Democrat filed a candidacy before the March deadline. Independents have until primary day to file a candidacy for the November general election, but no independent has filed yet.

The race became tinged with controversy when Kessler fired Bartlett — the county’s only full-time deputy — on Jan. 25 after Bartlett announced he was running. Kessler contended that Bartlett told others that Kessler wasn’t returning to work after having three surgeries between October 2008 and January 2009. Bartlett denied making the allegation.

Four months later, Bartlett says he is focused on the issues and is refusing to publicly discuss the department’s shortcomings or speak ill of his former boss.

“It’s a constitutional right to run for public office,” Bartlett said. “I guess there’s a difference in professionalism and I’m going to keep it as professional as I can.”

Kessler is now the only fulltime officer in the sheriff ’s office, with just one part-time deputy used to transport prisoners for court. Kessler said he has no time to campaign during his 12- to 15-hour workdays.

A deputy running against an incumbent boss is nothing new, but the Hanson County situation has gained a significant amount of attention.

Bartlett said he thinks the issue gained notoriety because commissioners did not accept the sheriff arbitrarily firing him. The commissioners reinstated Bartlett to a position in the county highway department because, according to them, Kessler didn’t follow county policy on dismissals.

Kessler still maintains his reason for firing Bartlett — personal and professional disloyalty — was allowable.

Keith Gall, Corson County sheriff and immediate past president of the South Dakota Sheriff ’s Association, found himself in the same position as Kessler when Deputy Brad Schell ran against him in the late 1990s.

Corson and Hanson counties are comparable in size and staff with 3,500 to 4,100 residents and one to two fulltime law enforcement officers.

Gall said he and Schell tried to keep the campaign clean and avoided mudslinging. Campaigning was done off the clock, and Schell still works for him.

“We were both professionals about it and stayed focused on public safety,” Gall said.

However, a policy was later established that if a deputy decides to run for sheriff, that person must resign until the election is over, Gall said.

Some Hanson County residents asked Bartlett to run for sheriff because they weren’t pleased with Kessler and wanted a change, Bartlett said.

Bartlett has been actively campaigning, with friends creating a “Bartlett for Sheriff” Facebook page with posts from supporters and a couple photos of campaign signs. He plans to campaign door-todoor soon.

“We are trying to put forth the best we can so people can make a decision,” he said.

Kessler said he is seeking re-election because he is still dedicated to serving county residents and those who pass through on Interstate 90. He cited a criminal clearance rate of 38 percent to 44 percent since 2003, solving murder, drug-related and other cases. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Report for 2008 shows nationwide clearance rates in non-metropolitan counties ranging from 16 percent for burglaries to 68.1 percent for murder and non-negligent manslaughter.

“I want to be in a position to make things better,” Kessler said. “(Residents) know what they have with me. They know what to expect. They can also expect that I will continue to learn more about what they need and hopefully fulfill that to the best of my ability.”

If Kessler is re-elected, a county resident wants to start a volunteer reserve program to help the sheriff, he said. Kessler now relies on the assistance of neighboring sheriff’s offices for backup on calls.

Kessler said his hectic work schedule has left him no time to campaign. His oldest son is putting up old, homemade campaign signs, and he hopes to accomplish what he can.

“I may not make it. That’s what scares me,” he said. “I could lose because I didn’t get out and knock on doors.”

Former deputy Mitch Wilcox, of Emery, publicly urged in a recent letter to the editor of The Daily Republic that Hanson County residents change their party affiliation to Republican so they can vote in the primary.

Wilcox, a Bartlett supporter who worked for Kessler for four years ending in August 2007, said he wrote the letter to inform people that they must be registered Republicans to vote in the election.

Tags: our towns, mark kessler, randy bartlett, news, alexandria