Wheeler campaigns on leadership, vision

SANDPOINT — Daryl Wheeler is campaigning to make sure the public’s voice is not muted as Bonner County contemplates a $10 million plan to replace the juvenile detention center and build a new work release center.

“The taxpayer needs to have a voice in this project and they need to have a vote,” said Wheeler, a Sandpoint Police patrol commander running for the GOP nomination in the race for sheriff.

Wheeler is challenging Sheriff Elaine Savage for the Republican nomination in the May 27 primary. Rocky Jordan, Geoff Rusho and Evan “Chip” Roos are in the running for the GOP nomination.

Larry Hanna is the presumptive Democrat nominee since Tony Lamanna pulled out of the race. Lamanna is now endorsing Wheeler’s election bid.

Wheeler, a former Bonner County deputy, has emerged as one of the more vocal critics of Savage’s plans for creating elbow room at the adult jail by building the work release center.

Wheeler maintains the 60-bed facility is overkill and the county will have to recruit inmates from outside the community in order to fill the place and collect the fees necessary to cover the lease payments.

The jail’s population of inmates with work-release privileges has been toggling between four and six lately, according to Wheeler.

“There was no economic justification for the need for this,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler, 50, describes himself as a fiscal conservative who pledges to make decisions with taxpayers in mind. He’s done his homework on the budget and can rattle off funding items without blinking an eye or spying a crib sheet.

“I want to raise the standard of service for citizens,” said Wheeler.

Improving public and officer safety also rank high on Wheeler’s list of goals.

He believes patrol staffing is inadequate and training needs to be given a higher priority. Wheeler also wants to repair or reconstruct bridges with other jurisdictions in the county.

“We need to be able to count on each other because we’re such a small and rural county,” said Wheeler, who pledges to reform the disbanded Sundance Drug Task Force with the city of Sandpoint.

People have been taking potshots at Wheeler’s California background. He was a Contra Costa County Sheriff’s deputy and worked for the Danville Police Department before coming to Idaho.

Wheeler, who counts a total of 22 years in law enforcement, shrugs at the criticism and points out that his background has made him extremely protective of Bonner County’s quality of life and steeled his resolve to keep problems plaguing the Golden State from taking root in the Gem State.

With more people coming to the Panhandle, Wheeler said he wants to see the sheriff’s office keep pace with the demands of the growth through solid leadership and vision.

“I want to see the department whether this next growth spurt and have a sheriff’s office that’s responsive to the needs of the public,” he said.

? More information about Wheeler and his candidacy can be found on the Web (www.wheeler4sheriff.com)