Candidate files as write-in for sheriff race

With the primaries over, voters and candidates are looking forward to the November elections. Tim Vulles, democrat, and Ernie Ornelas, republican, were the two candidates in the sheriff's race to move forward out of the primaries. However, a third individual has expressed his intention to contend them in the race, running as a non-partisan and write-in candidate.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Charlie Everson has announced that he plans on campaigning in the election for the sheriff's seat as a write-in candidate.

Everson started in law enforcement after he returned from Vietnam. He served as a deputy in Polk County, Wisconsin from 1971-1993. In 1993, he served of chief of police in Dresser, Wisconsin until September of 1999 when he moved out to Mineral County. Everson served the county as a deputy, and then later as undersheriff, for seven years, until 2006. In 2006, after leaving the department, he spent a few more years working in the county at the Hole in the Lodge before retiring and moving back to Wisconsin.

Everson said that he moved back to Wisconsin because his family was there and his grandkids were growing up there. However, he said that after he retired from law enforcement, he has missed it ever since.

"I semi-retired out of law enforcement and I've actually missed it ever since. This (running for Mineral County Sheriff) was a chance to get back into it again," Everson said of his decision to run as a write-in candidate.

Currently, Everson is living in Wisconsin, but has plans to be out 30 days before the general election as he must live in the county for 30 days to be considered a resident and to be eligible to run. Coming into the race late, as a write-in candidate and living miles away, Everson admitted that he does feel like it's going to be challenging to run a campaign.

"I'm sure it is going to be a challenge," Everson said. "I'm hoping people will remember who I was and remember when I was the undersheriff and deputy coroner."

Despite the challenges of his campaign, Everson said that he feels that there a lot of new things he could bring to the department, having also worked in another state.

"I believe with my years of experience and also having worked in two states, there's a lot of new things I could bring in that would be cost effective," Everson said.

Everson said that being cost effective is going to be the majority of his focus as he said he's heard about the budget problems that have been facing the department. However, having worked in Mineral County before, he said that the budget had been an issue for years. He said that while he understands that the budget is an issue, he believes the department should still be able to do its job.

"There have been issues with the budget for many years," Everson said. "I don't see it as a big problem. Yes, it is something that needs attention, but there's no reason why the department can't still do what they were hired to do and that's to serve the people of Mineral County. As law enforcement we first take an oath to protect and serve. Regardless of the budget, we still have a job to do."

Everson said that housing federal inmates in the jail again is an important staple of the budget and something that needs to happen again. He said that adjusting hours and shifts will also play an important role in deterring crime.

"The main thing is to be seen," Everson said. "If you don't have as many people you're just going to have to place them in different areas at different times."

Everson said that he's excited about the opportunity to get back into law enforcement.

"My wife tells me that it's in my blood," Everson said. "There's just something about it that sticks with you. You can help a lot of people."

Everson said upon arriving before the election he hopes to get out and talk to people. He said that even though his family will be back in Wisconsin, they'll just have to come and visit him this time around.

"There's just something about living in the mountains," he said.