Opinion : Letter to the Voters of Benton County: Ted Paxton

Dear Residents, 

I'm Ted Paxton and I am seeking the office of Sheriff in Benton County. I have been a Benton County resident since 2014 and I currently serve as the Chief of Police in Vinton. 

The selection of whom you choose to serve you as your next Sheriff is an important one. My opponent and I agree on two things. The first is that Benton County is a great place to live and raise a family, second, there is a need for a new direction in the Sheriff's Office. Our clear difference of opinion is who is better prepared to lead the Sheriff's Office on a new path, improve on the programs that are working, but not as well as they could, and to identify those things which need to no longer continue.

I have over 28 years of experience in law enforcement, 17 of which I have served at the executive level as a Chief of Police. I have experience dealing with budgets, and personnel issues, building a 5 year vision for the future of the agencies I have served, and a proven track record of leaving each department that I have led in a better place than when I arrived. 

My letters of recommendation come from individuals who have also served as leaders of law enforcement agencies, whose respect I have earned through years of collaboration and working together to improve not only the communities we serve but communities across Iowa. 

I am an active member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATHI), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association (IPCA). Through these associations I have attended training and seminars to gain greater knowledge to better prepare to serve my community and department. 

A vote for your next Sheriff is a vote the next Chief Executive Officer of YOUR Sheriff's Office. There is a process by which those who are selected to run companies are chosen. Across Iowa many of the names you will find on the ballot for Sheriff have management experience within the organization. I am the only candidate running for this position who has management experience.  I am the only candidate who has successfully led two departments through difficult times and prepared them for success after my departure. 

The citizens of Benton County deserve a better level of service than they have received in the past. This isn't intended to be a jab at Sheriff Tippett, the sheriff's office does a lot of things well, but there are certainly things that can be done better. Over the past several months of door knocking on the doors of voters in Benton County, I have heard about calls that were handled, but not well. Residents who didn't feel like their situation was handled with compassion, but rather just another report for a deputy to complete. 

I commit to the citizens of Benton County the following:

1) a greater return on investment for your tax dollars

2) greater transparency for the incidents occurring through the county

3) expectations and accountability for those who serve the Benton County community

4) a strategic plan to better serve the unincorporated areas of Benton County that are too often only served when there is a problem. 

I ask for your vote to allow me to serve as the next Benton County Sheriff and for the opportunity to do what I've always done, leave the department better than when I found it, and to serve the citizens of my community with honor and integrity. 

My experience has prepared me to be the next Sheriff of Benton County. There are two choices for the future of Benton County but only one has a proven track record. 

I look forward to serving the citizens of Benton County along with the other newly elected officials and I appreciate your support.

Tex Paxton