WINONA, Minn. — Now there are three. It’s a pattern going back decades in elections for a new Winona County sheriff: Multiple internal candidates. Charles Rolbiecki and John Hazelton have met a deadline to join Ben Klinger, which makes for a three-way contest to run the 23-oficer department. All three men have campaign web sites. More candidates are possible: The filing deadline is June 2. Sheriffs in Minnesota are elected to four-year terms.
Hazelton. 25 years community service. In sheriff’s office. Duties have included tactical and operational leadership, firearms instruction and command of the emergency response team. Sees sheriff’s role as building safety collaboratively with the community.
Rolbiecki. 18 years with the sheriff’s office. Duties have included detention deputy, deputy sheriff, water patrol supervisor, and civil processing leader. In total has 26 years in law enforcement. His principles, he said, include truthfulness, transparency, communicate and integrity.