You couldn’t find two more “laid back” individuals running for an elective position than the candidates for Door County Sheriff; Democrat Tammy Sternard and Republican Steve Delarwelle. To say that both exhibit quiet leadership is an understatement. Delarwelle, a patrol sergeant on the night shift and Sternard, the jail lieutenant, have run low key campaigns emphasizing their goals if elected to replace retiring sheriff Terry Vogel.
Delarwelle, who is 55, has been with the department for 23 years. Four years as a sergeant and eight years as officer in charge of the night shift, along with educational training in law enforcement policies and procedures has prepared him for the department’s top spot. Delarwelle says, as sheriff, he would strive to keep the lines of communication open with the “rank and file”, would see to it that there was interaction between the top department officers and the sergeants, and would like to see the creation of a K-9 unit to combat drugs.
Sternard, who is 44, has been able to move from reserve deputy status 21 years ago, to the department’s fourth highest leadership position. She has taken numerous administrative courses and is involved in multiple community and professional organizations. Sternard wants to evaluate employees and seek input from community leaders to gain a consensus on department strengths and areas needing improvement, would assign full-time school resource officers to meet the needs of local students, and strengthen alternatives to incarceration programs.
