Cliff Buchan
News Editor

When it comes to a sheriffís election, three for two makes for an interesting race. And a primary election decision.

As voters prepare to do their duty on Tuesday, Sept. 12, they will find few local contests where the primary election is relevant. But not in the sheriffís race in Washington County.

Here, three candidates are on the ballot Sept. 12. The run-off will send the top two vote getters to the Nov. 7 general election and the public opinion verdict for a four-year term as sheriff.

In the race are:

ïSteve Pott, the current sheriff who was appointed to fill the post when former Sheriff Jim Frank retired.

ïBill Hutton.

ïPete Crum.

Steve Pott

Pott, 46, a lifelong resident of Lake Elmo, has worked for Washington County for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the sheriffís office, he served as a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper from 1982 to 1985.

Prior to his appointment to sheriff in April of 2005 by the county board, Pott spent eight years as chief deputy, serving as Frankís second in command.

Pott began his duties with the county as a patrol deputy and also spent three years patrolling the lakes and rivers as the water safety enforcement deputy. He has also logged time in the communications center and technical support sergeant for five years.

ìThese are very exciting and challenging times at the sheriffís office,î Pott said in a prepared statement. ìThe county has undertaken several large capital improvement projects that will be completed in the next years.î

The sheriffís office has the primary responsibility for construction and implementation of the county-wide 800 MHz radio communication system and design and implementation of the countyís wireless data system. A new communication center is also on the drawing board along with the long-range 2025 capital improvement plan.

Pott, who has attended the FBI National Leadership Academy, is married to Marty and they have two children, ages 4 and 6.

Bill Hutton

Capt. Bill Hutton of the Oakdale Police Department has logged 23 years of police work in Oakdale, but is a man with Forest Lake ties. Prior to his work in law enforcement, Hutton worked as director of the Forest Lake Youth Service Bureau.

Hutton has worked as a police captain since 2002 and currently supervises the patrol division. He has also spent 16 years working in criminal investigations for the city of Oakdale.

ìYears of working investigations that brought me into contact with other agencies and officers across the metro and the state have taught me the value of inter-agency collaboration,î Hutton said. ìI would build strong partnerships in Washington County.î

Hutton is a third-generation police officer. His father, George Hutton, spent 34 years with the St. Paul Police Department. His sister, Shannon Harrington, is a St. Paul officer in the family and sexual violence unit, and a nephew, Mark Nelson, is a narcotics officer in St. Paul.

Huttonís first leadership post came in Forest Lake when he was hired to lead the Youth Service Bureau.

Hutton is married has two sons. Gabe is stationed in Kuwait with his Army unit for his second tour of duty after 15 months in Iraq. Grant, an adult with special needs, lives in Woodbury.

In his two decades of police work, Hutton says he has watched the county grow and change. His cases followed suit, giving him experience handling crimes such as murders and drug-trafficking, and other crimes that affect the quality of life, he says.

Hutton says these lessons have taught him that the best policing demands the best leadership. He completed the FBI National Academyís leadership training program in 1997 and earned an MS from the University of St. Thomas in public safety administration and education in 2000.

ìI will bring my strengths as a police officer, investigator and leader to Washington County,î Hutton said in a prepared statement.

Pete Crum

New Scandia resident Pete Crum boasts a wide range of police experience in his bid to become Washington County Sheriff.

Crum, 39, is an inspector for the St. Paul Police Department. His experience dates to 1985 when he joined the Marine Corps Reserve Military Police Company at Fort Snelling.

He was placed on active duty for the first Persian Gulf War where he served with the 2nd Marine Division in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

After returning from the Persian Gulf in 1991, Crum has worked as a patrol officer and sergeant for the Minneapolis Police Department, a research associate for the university of Alaskaís Justice Center, assistant chief for Bethel, Alaska, and as an inspector and spokesman for the St. Paul Police Department.

He stepped down from his duties as spokesman in June to focus on his campaign for sheriff. His duties as an inspector include work as a certified emergency manager.

Crum is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a double major in political science and sociology. He has a masterís in public administration from the University of Alaska. He is a co-author of several published criminal justice research papers.

Crum says his vision for the sheriffís office includes advancing community policing by decentralizing the office, moving deputies to the cities and townships they serve and implementing a systems approach problem solving.

Crum and his wife, Lisa, are the parents of two children, ages 7 and 5. He is a member of the Scandia-Marine Lions Club, Stillwater VFW Post 323 and is active with the local Cub Scout troop.

ìAs your sheriff, I will use my comparative experience and education to support community priorities and provide quality, fiscally responsible services in accordance with local planning,î Crum said in a prepared statement.

Chisago County

In one other primary contest of note, Chisago County voters on Sept. 12 must narrow the field of candidates for county attorney from three to two.

Incumbent County Attorney Katherine Johnson has filed for election to a second four-year term.

She is being challenged by Timothy Ryan and Janet Reiter.

Ryan lost a narrow contest to Johnson four years ago in his bid to become county attorney.

The top two vote getters advance to the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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