KROX Radio continues our interviews with the area candidates running for office and today we have the Polk County Sheriff race with Jim Tadman and Randy Sondrol. Our question and answer with the two candidates is below-
Q: Would you please tell us about yourself?
Jim: Currently I live in the Erskine community, have lived there since 1992. Me and my wife Stacy have been married for 23 years. We have three children, Austin, Sydney, and Kiana. We’re part of the Win-E-Mac school district. I’m a volunteer with the fire department for the last 22 years and finishing up my 14th year with the Win-E-Mac School Board.
Randy: I’m from the Climax-Buxton area. For the last 18 years, Lisa and I’ve been raising two girls that are graduating from college in December. We currently live on a hobby farm over by Erskine. I’ve been in law enforcement 28 years, 24 of them in Polk County. I’ve worked in every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office that I could get into and I’ve started different programs along the way. I also do a lot of community events and activities, such as being with the Lions Club, 4-H and a volunteer at the Rydell Refuge. I’m also an instructor at Northland College and a Badger Township Supervisor for 10 years. For people that live in the country, I think they realize how valuable the township is for the communities.
Q: Why are you running?
Jim: Due to the fact that Sheriff Erdman is retiring, I feel with my knowledge and experience through the years [and] being Chief Deputy the past five years I have a balanced knowledge and experience to continue to lead our department. I feel that we have an outstanding department and want to continue to work with our staff to strengthen and build it.
Randy: I worked in all aspects of the Sheriff’s Office and that when I started I always knew I wanted to become Sheriff. That’s why a lot of choices I made throughout my career was towards gaining the experience and knowledge so that when this day does come, which is now, I would be ready for it. I can take all the knowledge that I have in the Sheriff’s Office, working with the communities and the townships to utilize it to become the best leader I can for the Sheriff’s Office.
Q: Anything you would like to add?
Jim: I just encourage everybody get out November 6th and come out and vote.
Randy: I want to say with my experience, training and my goals have always been to give back to the community. By becoming Sheriff, it allows me the best opportunity to give back the most to the community and department.
Jim Tadman Randy Sondrol
