Law enforcement veterans vie for Lenawee sheriff post
11/2/2008ADRIAN The two candidates running for Lenawee County sheriff have more than 60 years of law enforcement experience between them.
Gail Dotson, a retired Michigan State Police officer who is second in command of the sheriff s office, and retired sheriff s department Capt. Jack Welsh are facing off in one of the most hotly contested campaigns in countywide elections.
The winner will succeed Sheriff Larry Richardson, who is stepping down after two terms in office.
Mrs. Dotson, a Democrat, survived a five-way race in the August primary, and Mr. Welsh defeated two Republican challengers in the partisan election to win his party s nomination.
Mr. Welsh, 57, retired last year as captain from the sheriff s department, where he worked 33 years. He is regional emergency planner in the Lenawee County Emergency Management Office.
Mrs. Dotson, 56, retired five years ago as post commander of the state police s Jonesville post in Hillsdale. After working 25 years for the agency, she was appointed undersheriff by Sheriff Richardson. She took a leave of absence from the position after winning the August primary.
Mrs. Dotson said she wants to keep in place policies and procedures that were implemented by Sheriff Richardson, including the crime stopper and victims advocate program and the assignment of an officer in county schools.
Between the two candidates, I have the most education and the most experience, she said.
Mr. Welsh, who ran unsuccessfully in 2004 against Sheriff Richardson, said he believes he has the ability and experience to work effectively with other public safety agencies in the county.
He said he began as a volunteer deputy and worked his way up through the ranks of the department.
If elected sheriff, he said he plans to put more patrol officers in the community by taking deputies assigned to prisoner transportation and putting them on the road.
• OTHER RACES
In other contests, Donald Isley, a Republican from Blissfield, and independent Dale Schug of Adrian are running for a vacancy on the road commission.
Voters also will have choices in five of nine commissioner seats. Republican District 2 Commissioner H. Edwin Branch is being challenged by Carol Timm, a Democrat.
District 4 Commissioner Jason MacKay, a Democrat, is opposed for re-election by Republican Fay Miller.
Republican Don Welch and Democrat Randy Fielder are seeking to fill the vacancy in the District 6 seat.
District 7 Commissioner John Tuckerman and District 8 Commissioner Ralph Tillotson, who are Republicans, are being challenged by Democrats Randy Kelley and Larry Hall, respectively.
Voters in Blissfield will cast ballots for the offices of president, treasurer, and trustees.
Jae Guetschow is challenging Patrick Hindle, who is the current president of the village, and Treasurer Margaret Nieman is opposed by Audricka Jacob.
Incumbents Michael Charlefour and Michael Gunter and Jay Bowling, George Brown, Jan Luce, Al Navarro, Kris Ruhl, Gary Sullivan, Bob Valdez, and David Volk are seeking three trustee seats in the nonpartisan contest.
• LOCAL ISSUE
The Hudson school system is asking for an additional 0.75-mill, five-year sinking fund levy to provide improvements for roofs, driveways, heating and plumbing, and other repairs of school buildings. The levy would cost the owner of home with a taxable value of $49,000 about $37.50 a year. It would bring in about $122,000 a year for the district.
Contact Mark Reiter at:markreiter@theblade.comor 734-241-3610.