Leonard pledges to preserve the peace
November 2, 2012
Editor's note: Gary Leonard (Independent) is one of three candidates for Boundary County Sheriff, which is the only contested local race in the 2012 Boundary County general election. Also running are incumbent Greg Sprungl (R), and write-in candidate Jeff Ennis (R), who lost to Sprungl in the primary. All three candidates had been asked for candidate's statements; Leonard is the only candidate to respond.

Stacy and Gary Leonard
My name is Gary Leonard and I am running for Boundary County Sheriff. I am a man of strong conservative values. I pledge to exercise all powers of the Sheriff’s office to ensure I fulfill the Sheriff’s primary responsibility of preserving the peace.

Many of you may not be familiar with the constitutional responsibilities of the Sheriff. They are expansive and involve much more than law enforcement.

The Sheriff is a community leader responsible for preserving the peace, arresting criminals and preventing and suppressing all affrays, breaches of the peace, riots, and insurrections which may come to his knowledge.

In addition, the Sheriff has authority to ensure all disaster, fire, medical, search and rescue, civil, and criminal activities are handled properly. In every emergency, crime, and civil matter, the Sheriff is the “authority having jurisdiction." This makes the Sheriff the local authority that has final say in all these matters, regardless of the agency that assumes command. The buck stops at the Sheriff.

My experiences as Fire Chief, Emergency Medical Technician, Multi State Search and Rescue team member, Level III Sworn Deputy member of Posse, combined with my 25 plus years as a manager, investigator, and leader ensure Boundary County will have the Sheriff we deserve.

Boundary County deserves a Sheriff that is unafraid to make hard decisions, willing to train his team to serve the community, and work directly with our community to ensure the peace, security, and tranquility Boundary County improve while under his watch, a Sheriff that will not play politics with the lives of local citizens, will not use his position to further his political endeavors, and will not favor any group or individual based on their political affiliation or who they associate with.

There will be no favoritism or “special” treatment.

Many who know me know I am fully engaged on our community. You may have seen me participating in local charity events, running or riding my bicycle somewhere around town, at the Boundary County Fair, or at the July Fourth Celebration, or maybe even on a campaign brochure in your mail box a few weeks ago. I have become keenly aware of the needs of this community and listened to you.

I pledge to remain diligent and available during my entire 48 month term and give Boundary County citizens a proactive sheriff who is involved in the community at all times, not just when it is convenient or beneficial for a career.

I will do the right thing, at the right time, the right way, for the right reasons.

Decisions will always be made in the best interest of the Boundary County citizens and not based on what is best for me personally, or who one associates with, or whether or not the result will cost votes.