Candidate resigns from MCSO

by Justyna Tomtas/Mineral Independent
| June 12, 2014 12:09 PM

SUPERIOR – One day after the primary election, Mineral County Sheriff candidate Robert Larson resigned from his position.

Larson ran for sheriff along with three other candidates. Although he came in second with 229 votes, he was 154 votes behind sheriff-elect Tom Bauer.

According to current Sheriff Ernie Ornelas, Larson submitted his resignation on Wednesday, June 4 and his last day of work ended during the evening of Saturday, June 7.

“For whatever reason he felt he couldn’t give a two week notice,” Ornelas stated.

While the department was undergoing interviews to replace the position left open by former deputy Jim Balenger’s termination, Larson asked to speak with Ornelas.

The department will hold a discussion to figure out their next step once Undersheriff Mike Boone returns.

“Within a week or two we should have an idea of how to handle that,” Ornelas said.

According to Ornelas, Michael O’Brien will fill Balenger’s old position. The new deputy was scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 10 and has experience with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department in Idaho.