Wasatch County sheriff candidate Jeremy Hales said he would enact positive change in the first six months on the job if he’s elected.
Hales, who is the emergency management director for the Sheriff’s Office, said he hopes to strengthen the law enforcement agency, support employees and build trust with the citizens of Wasatch County.
“My first priority will be increasing transparency and communication. I will be present, accessible and engaged with our deputies, staff, elected officials, community leaders and citizens,” Hales said.
Hales is facing incumbent Sheriff Jared Rigby for the post. The two Republicans will be on the June 23 GOP primary election ballot. Summit County detective Eric Mainord will also appear on the ballot, though no votes cast for him will be counted after he withdrew from the race.
In May, Hales and Rigby participated in a candidate forum to discuss their views on top issues in Wasatch County. Hales said he is running for sheriff because he wants to bring change.
“I want to bring a new voice and a new opinion that people will understand,” Hales said at the forum.
That includes building on relationships with the community and law enforcement agencies across the Wasatch Back so the Sheriff’s Office is better equipped to handle rapid growth facing Wasatch County, according to Hales.
If elected sheriff, Hales said he would work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “the right way.” For him, that means standing up for the rights of citizens.
“We will have a say in what happens. We need to work with them. We need to be open and transparent,” Hales said.
On public trust, Hales said building relationships is already something he has been working toward as the emergency management director for the Sheriff’s Office.
“I already have a lot of those relationships in place. … I work with them on a sometimes month, sometimes weekly basis, so I do not need to stand back and wait for that to happen,” Hales said in May.
Monday, Hales added that maintaining and strengthening public trust is one of the top issues facing the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office.
“My priorities as sheriff would be establishing greater transparency within the Sheriff’s Office, strengthening trust with the community and enhancing the training, development and capabilities of our deputies and staff,” Hales said.
Hales said the citizens of Wasatch County “deserve a Sheriff’s Office that is open, accountable, responsive and engaged.”
As Wasatch County grows, Hales said building public trust will help the Sheriff’s Office be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
“I believe trust, communication and collaboration are the foundation of effective law enforcement. I want to instill confidence in those we serve, in the deputies and staff who serve alongside us, and in the agencies and communities that support us,” Hales said.
All primary election ballots must be received by the county offices by June 23, which is also when in-person voting will take place.
Secure ballot drop box locations have been open 24 hours since June 3 and close at 8 p.m. on June 23. Early in-person voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 15, 16, 17 and 18 at the Wasatch County Administration building. Election Day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The winner of the primary election will face Paul Moore, who recently became an unaffiliated candidate for sheriff, in November.