Letter to the Editor: Select new Winneshiek County Sheriff by appointment, not by election

(Rick Dotzenrod of Pleasant Township has e-mailed the following Letter to the Editor):

"I would like applaud the Winneshiek County Supervisors for their decision to appoint the next Winneshiek County Sheriff. 

I, along with everyone I've spoken to, believe it is crazy and irresponsible to spend $12,000 to hold a special sheriff's election when the sheriff is up for election next year in 2016 anyway.  No reasonable person could conclude that a special election is appropriate in this situation.  Kudos to the supervisors for doing the job they were elected to do by choosing fiscal responsibility, and appointing the next sheriff to fill the remainder of the term.

Should any person decide to petition for a special election, I ask the citizens and voters of Winneshiek County to fully consider the expense they are incurring on themselves and fellow tax-payers, along with the apparent self-serving motivations behind the petition, before signing.  Anyone choosing to unnecessarily cost us hard-earned dollars is clearly not looking out for the best interest of Winneshiek County.