HUTCH: Your kind of sheriff

Question: Who do you want to elect Sheriff of Kootenai County, a lawyer? A lobbyist? Or a conservative lawman?

John Green is a Washington lawyer who was one of Phil Hart’s tax attorneys. He hasn’t worn a badge since the ‘80s. Lawyer? Nope.

Ben Wolfinger is a lobbyist for the sheriff’s department who represents the status quo. Lobbyist? Nope.

Keith Hutcheson is the only candidate who has actually been a “Top Cop” at any law enforcement agency, as he served for almost six years as Chief of Police for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. He built that force from the ground up, hiring and training officers, modernizing their operations and creating respect for police in the community. Hutcheson has stated that this is not the time to float a bond for a new $55 million jail considering the current economy and that jail overcrowding could be reduced by utilizing the Work Release Center, which has recently averaged only six beds used per night out of 128 available.

Hutcheson has been Kootenai Co. Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year for 2004, and in 2005 he was awarded the Top Dog Handler of the year for the state of Idaho. Hutch is also a decorated firefighter who currently serves as chairman of the board of Kootenai Fire and Rescue and has been deeply involved in the local community. He is a real field-oriented commander who actively fought crime and who personally made arrests up until he resigned as Tribal Police Chief to run for sheriff. He is a true conservative and Hutcheson is the kind of Republican candidate I enthusiastically endorse.

JIM HIGHTOWER

Coeur d’Alene

Member, Board of Directors, Crimestoppers of the Inland Northwest

Member, Board of Directors, Kootenai County Reagan Republicans