Two longtime local law enforcement officers — Randy Sanders and Brandon Stratton — are running against each other to become the next Highland County sheriff in the March 19 primary election.

Sanders, 65, has spent 40-plus years in law enforcement. He was with the Hillsboro Police Department from 1980-86, Highland County Sheriff’s Office from 1986-98, Ross County Sheriff’s Office from 1998-2012, Highland County Sheriff’s Office from 2012-2019 and Highland County Task Force from 2019 to the present.

Stratton, 49, is currently serving his 10th year as chief deputy at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office. He was a 911 dispatcher for four years, spent 10 years in road patrol service and has worked in state prison corrections.

Both candidates have long lists of affiliations, qualifications and accolades.

Below are their answers to questions that were submitted to each of them by The Times-Gazette:

1. Why do want to be sheriff?

SANDERS — I was raised to always want to leave a place better than when I found it. I believe that my 40-plus years of active law enforcement experience allows me to bring a unique perspective to the sheriff’s office and the staff there. I am a lifelong resident of Highland County and I have long been a public servant and I want to continue in that role. I feel that my genuine desire to make a difference will benefit the citizens of Highland County. Finally, law enforcement is not a job for me, but is a life for me.

STRATTON — To continue the continuity with the great team that sheriff Barrera has built and to continue to serve and protect all the great people of Highland County and our communities.

2. Where are you originally from and where did you attend high school?

SANDERS — Born and raised in Hillsboro, Highland County. Graduate of Hillsboro High School.

STRATTON — Born and raised Highland County resident. Graduate of McClain High School in Greenfield.

3. What town do you reside in?

SANDERS — I have lived in Liberty Township outside Hillsboro for the past 38 years.

STRATTON — Lives in Rocky Fork Lake area.

4. What do you feel are the most important issues law enforcement is facing in Highland County?

SANDERS — Clearly illegal drugs are an issue. Illegal drug use accounts for 95% of all crimes, including homicides, property crimes, assaults, etc. It also accounts for most of the children in the care and custody of Highland County Children Services. Drugs also have an impact on the social services provided in this area which directly impacts the taxpayers. I plan to work to expand the Highland County Task Force in order to continue to combat illegal narcotics being sold in Highland County. I feel it is important to build the relationship between the community and law enforcement. We need to be transparent with the public as well. My ideas include bringing the scanner online back, body cameras and car cameras, as well as have an updated and active web page and social media page. I also want to focus on maintaining an experienced workforce at the sheriff’s office. Solid law enforcement comes with experience and that is why it is very important to keep experienced officers in the office to train and pass that experience onto the younger deputies. Finally, we need to focus on illegal immigrants entering Highland County. This is an issue that is countrywide and brings crime as well illegal narcotics into this country.

STRATTON — Some of the most important issues to me are the steady rise of sex crimes, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The domestic violence and crimes against families that are continuing to rise, the current mental health issues, working hard for the citizens who fall into addiction in the ever continuing battle in drug addiction that hurt our county’s families and our communities. Keeping our officers out on patrol in the communities to help all our children and focus on school safety. With so many children across the U.S. that have experienced the tragedies of school shootings we must protect our schools and all our families as the children should also feel safe going to school and all their fun extracurricular events. Lastly, for my feelings, I am proud of all the officers at the sheriff’s office and all the great work and all our local town police officers as they continue to show positive community policing in our county. We are all here to protect and serve in this career and we must continue to be involved in mentoring and engaging our youth and responding to emergencies and crisis when our people of the county need us.

5. What are you goals as sheriff?

SANDERS — To continue to grow as a department while keeping up with standards and move forward to keep up with a continuing changing world while upholding the constitution and laws of the state of Ohio.

STRATTON — To hold my oath and continue to protect and serve my community, my department and my officers. I pledge that every day, and I am proud I am a peace officer in Highland County and will commit my efforts and resources if elected. Our department responds effectively to the evolving demands of public safety, our children, our community and Highland County citizens’ well being.

6. What kind of changes would you like to implement?

SANDERS — I would like build on the task force by involving the sheriff’s office as a major contributor and adding programs to assist other county agencies. I will continue to develop my working relationship with the schools as education in the schools is paramount. The task force has been doing drug education in the schools and this needs expanded. I will bring back K-9s to the county. I would like to add body cameras as standard equipment. To keep the community informed and involved as well as protect the officers.

STRATTON — I am proud of the services our officers do and all their hard work and will continue the same work to protect and serve all the people. There’s some saying like you don’t have to fix what’s not broken. For me, no change. I will continue to fight the corruption and am proud do so.

7. Why are you the correct choice to be the next sheriff of Highland County?

SANDERS — I have worked all areas of law enforcement and have been entrusted by numerous sheriff’s and administrators to run operations in their jurisdictions. I have made hard decisions on an almost daily basis having to take into consideration the job at hand along with safety of officers and the community. I have several years of experience handling the administrative duties such as budgeting, grant writing, grant implementation and personnel. I have an excellent relationship with local law enforcement as well as surrounding counties. I also have an excellent relationship with other county agencies. I will bring ethics, knowledge of the law, morals, values and integrity to the office of sheriff if elected. These are the reasons I would I feel I am the correct choice for Highland County sheriff.

STRATTON — I have been given the skills to prepare me for the position of sheriff. For the past 10 years as your chief deputy for the county, I have the knowledge of the role, what the sheriff must do, what must be managed at the higher levels and the background to stand as a leader when the toughest of situations arise. Leadership and hard work are not a popularity contest alone. You must have courage and resilience to stand firm in convictions when others are in opposition. The essence of being a leader is our ability to make difficult choices, lead by example, hold your valor amongst negative attacks, foster and protect and serve the community environment, and instill in the law enforcement field to lead with authenticity and consistency. You owe the oath that.

Reach Jeff Gilliland at [email protected].