craigdailypress.com

Republican candidate Jerry Hoberg said the past seven years he's spent working as undersheriff have put him in a position to run for a job he's long aspired to have: sheriff.

On Tuesday night, he'll learn whether that dream is one step closer to reality, or fallen just short. He and fellow GOP candidate, and sheriff's office colleague, Sgt. Tim Jantz, are seeking the Republican nomination in the upcoming primary election.

"I've worked hard my whole career to put myself in a position run for sheriff," said Hoberg, who reminds voters that as undersheriff, he's managed a $3.1 million budget and 40 employees.

"My whole campaign has been based on experience because I've been doing it for the last seven years."

On Friday, Hoberg addressed how his administration would handle methamphetamine and illegal immigrants -- two hot-button issues with voters in the campaign.

Hoberg said he would fight meth on four fronts. Keeping the drugs out of the community, arresting the user on the street, continuing to fund a Moffat County undercover officer and developing a thorough rehabilitation program are elements of Hoberg's blueprint for curbing meth use.

"You put them in jail," Hoberg said. But, once offenders are inside, "you have to look at some type of process for rehabilitation."

On rehabilitation, Hoberg said he's open to new ideas. He said understanding why users tried the drug and helping them stay clean are important. Ultimately, the decision to get clean remains with the users, Hoberg said, and the sheriff's hopeful is willing to try an assortment of remedies to help them.

Although law enforcement officers can take an active role in ceasing meth use, the task of stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the area is much more constricting, Hoberg said.

He said deputies are doing their best to arrest people here illegally. But, the real problem lies with the federal government's indecision about how to deal with illegal immigration, he said.

"It's not the local guys," Hoberg said. "It's the bureaucracy higher up. We work really well with ICE (Immigration Custom Enforcement) and they work well with us. They're spread thin."

Hoberg said generic sweeps for illegal immigrants are illegal without probable cause.

He said he sympathized with residents calling for law enforcement to do more, but reassured that deputies are doing all they can within the letter of the law. They continue to arrest people here unlawfully, Hoberg said.

Hoberg said he would continue campaigning for support during the weekend. He said his election as sheriff would bring continuity to the office while ushering in an official with his own ideas and policies.

Hoberg, who serves on various boards and committees around town, said he would look forward to the opportunity to serve the public in another capacity.