Though the race won’t be run until 2016, one candidate has already launched his campaign to be Boundary County’s next sheriff, saying the early start will give him time to develop a true community coalition on which to build stronger ties between the sheriff’s office and the community it, and he, serves.

Dave Schuman, 53, with nearly 35 years as a peace officer, 14 of them in Boundary County, has even established a Facebook page, “Think Sheriff Vote Schuman,” to help spread his vision and his message.

“If we can get people working together, there’s nothing we can’t do,” he said.

Dave grew up in the Los Angeles area and joined the Army in 1979 as a military policeman, a role that took him around the world and showed him the many facets that make up modern law enforcement, from the traditional view of breaking up fights at the club, solving crimes and bringing in suspects to establishing diplomatic relations with often hostile groups on foreign soil.

“I learned a lot in my time with the military,” he said, “both as a member of a team and as a leader of teams ranging from three to 300.”

During his time in the Army, he met a Laclede girl, Michelle, and fell in love. When she asked him to visit North Idaho, he said “sure,” which turned out to have been momentous.

“I guess she took that ‘yes’ to mean more than one thing, because shortly after our trip, we were married and making plans to settle in North Idaho after I retired,” he said.

And within five days of retiring in 1999, Dave, Michelle and their two daughters, ages three and four, had set up house in Bonners Ferry and Dave started work with the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office.

He started as a detention officer, working in the jail before going on patrol one year later. He has since worked in investigations and drug intervention, and he has been the county K-9 officer for 14 years.

“It’s time to step up, to accept and take on new challenges and responsibilities,” he said.

His approach throughout his career, equal service to all, coupled with his firm belief that the sheriff’s office belongs to the community, plus the years he’s spent as part of both, he said, gives him a unique opportunity to bring both the sheriff’s office and the community it serves closer together.

“The sheriff’s office belongs to the community, but it is limited in its resources,” he said. “Bringing people together is a priority. The sheriff’s office may be limited, but working together with the community, what we can accomplish is unlimited.”

If elected, he said, changes would seem subtle but make a profound difference; improved communications, ensuring trained supervisory personnel are on duty around the clock instead of solely on the day shift, high but achievable standards and accountability, better community outreach, training, not only for personnel, but the public as well, a closer working relationship with the many volunteer groups and organizations that are there to assist when need arises.

Instilling pride, both in sheriff’s personnel and the community they serve.

“They may sound like little, simple things,” Schuman said, “but they will make a huge difference.”

In his 14 years in Boundary County, Dave has come to love Boundary County and its people, and he takes satisfaction in having built a reputation such that most people smile and wave and know that he’s there to help.

“It’s nice to drive down the road, wave to people and see all five fingers wave back!” he said with a chuckle.

He and Michelle have been blessed, he said, to have raised Sarah, who graduated Bonners Ferry High School last year, and Brandy in such a close-knit and caring community, and his goal is to work to ensure that Boundary County retains those qualities he has grown to love and appreciate so much.

“I love my community,” he said. “I dedicated myself to serving years ago, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon.”

Schuman said he hopes to meet everyone in Boundary County between now and election day, and he’s happy to meet with folks anytime he’s not on duty, be it one person or a whole roomful. He looks forward, he said, to hearing peoples ideas, concerns and questions.

“It may not always be what you want to hear, but I’ll always give an honest answer,” he said. “If I don’t know, I’ll tell you, and then I’ll find out and get back to you. I want people to know who I am so they can make an informed decision when they cast their vote.”

To get in touch with Dave, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Think-Sheriff-Vote-Schuman/545545682208329.