Wilson announces run for sheriff

Dan Wilson recently announced he is running for election against Kootenai County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Norris.

“As your sheriff, I commit to secure your natural rights to life, liberty and property and to do so with equal protection under the law, where we do not see race, gender, political views, income status or any other delineator of people,” Wilson said during a live event Dec. 6 in Coeur d’Alene, according to a news release. “We are all created equally under God.”

The release said “Inspired by the current sheriff’s lack of vision, leadership and failure to plan for future events, Wilson said, ‘I didn’t want to run for sheriff. I had a conviction to run for the office and it was my duty to respond to that conviction.’”

Wilson’s priorities, according to the release, include “protection of our county from the illegal invasion at the border,” and that he will be “implementing a posse of vetted citizens to support the sworn peace officers of the county and do what’s necessary to protect our county’s residents from the overreach and abuse of our citizens.”

Wilson said, in the release, that “upholding and protecting a citizen’s constitutional Second Amendment rights shouldn’t even be up for discussion. Any politician that still thinks he can court the people by claiming that’s already ingrained in his character, is bloviating nonsense. ‘Shall not be infringed’ is final. The sheriff should not get a pat on the back for a minimal requirement, which is, you know, upholding people’s constitutional rights to defend themselves from all foreign and domestic threats.”

The release said Wilson’s priorities do not minimize other pressing issues, such as the fentanyl crisis and property crimes, but that he recognizes that issues like illegal immigration and human trafficking are driving the drug and homelessness epidemic at the local level. 

“The sheriff’s office will continue to work with our local and regional law enforcement partners to unify and combat all these issues that attempt to deprive people of life, liberty and property,” said the release. 

“I am looking forward to working with all police chiefs in Kootenai County, realizing that they each have individual areas of expertise, experience and wisdom to provide in the common mission of serving and protecting Kootenai County,” Wilson said in the release. 

Wilson is a Kootenai County resident living near Athol.