ON THE BALLOT: Jefferson County Sheriff

Tracy Vance

Family: Wife - Janet Vance; Son - Ross Vance

Occupation: Deputy sheriff

Political Experience: Served three years on Fort Madison School Board; served 10 years on Lee County Board of Supervisors

Why are you running for office?

I am running for sheriff because I believe I am best equipped to lead the Sheriff's Office with my broad experience in both law enforcement and administration. I am familiar with managing budgets, grant writing, and supervising personnel. It is no longer acceptable to have a system where the sheriff picks his chief deputy and the chief deputy is the heir apparent to become sheriff. I believe this leads to complacency and lack of accountability. We haven't had a contested general election race for sheriff in almost 40 years. The citizens of Jefferson County deserve a choice.

What are your priorities if elected?

My priorities will be:

A) Develop a monthly training program. I believe we need more comprehensive training to cover de-escalation, dealing with mental health issues and cultural diversity.

B) Proactively work to interrupt the flow of dangerous drugs into Jefferson County and work with the county attorney, court system and social service agencies to find alternative means to help those addicted to these drugs, such as Drug Court. I want a deputy specifically assigned to work drug cases.

C) I will enact community engagement programs to improve community relations and make the Sheriff's Office more transparent and accountable to the citizens.

Do you think the Sheriff's Office has done well in managing taxpayer money, and if not, how would you have spent it differently?

I believe the taxpayers are not receiving the most from taxes they pay for the Sheriff's Office. First is the issue of overtime for administrators. The fact that they are scheduling themselves for a nine-hour shift every day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year causing them to receive unnecessary overtime is wrong and not a wise use of tax dollars.

Second, we currently have three jail administrators. Other surrounding similarly-sized counties only have one. I would make this reduction through attrition of jail staff. Third, I believe we need to plan for future needs in the budget.

If you are elected to office in November, how should we judge whether your time in office has been a success at the end of those four years?

I believe my time as sheriff, if elected, should be judged on whether the ideas I have put forth have been successfully enacted. Further, I would consider my term a success if I have served the citizens with integrity, moral character and transparency while keeping the citizens of Jefferson County safe.