Candidates for sheriff in several Northwest Missouri counties cite law enforcement experience in their quest for office Aug. 5.

GENTRY COUNTY

Three Republicans and three Democrats seek to replace longtime Gentry County Sheriff Eugene Lupfer, a Republican who is leaving the office.

Thomas Gorsline, 41, is a Republican who has served as a police officer in Hamilton, Mo., and the Gentry County Sheriff’s Department. He is the owner of a small business in Albany and Stanberry.

His law enforcement experience includes work with the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program and training canines. He belongs to several police organizations and spent time in the U.S. Air Force. He’s worked with juvenile delinquents for almost 15 years.

“There seems to be more of a problem with underage drinking,” Mr. Gorsline said.

Another Republican, Nicholas “Nick” Tompkins, 29, is a graduate of Albany High School and studied at the Missouri Western State University Regional Law Enforcement Academy. He’s worked for almost six years in the Gentry County Sheriff’s Office.

“I believe in serving the people and being fair,” Mr. Tompkins said. “I’d like to be more active in the schools.”

The News-Press was unable to contact Patrick Parrish, a third Republican candidate.

Democrat James Myrl Brown, 48, said he has no law enforcement background but would rely on a common-sense approach. He is a longtime member of the Boy Scouts and is an Eagle Scout. He was born and raised in Albany and is a past firefighter with the Albany Fire Department.

“The main deal I’m thinking about is drugs and safety for the community,” Mr. Brown said.

Kenny Brenneman, 49, began his law enforcement career with the Albany Police Department. He later served as police chief for about 10 years until the city disbanded the department for economic reasons in 2000.

Mr. Brenneman also worked with the county’s 911 dispatch before becoming a sheriff’s deputy for four years. He has since worked at the Johnson Controls plant in Albany.

“The problems associated with the methamphetamine epidemic will be my No. 1 concern,” he said. “The horror stories associated with this epidemic are numerous.”

The News-Press was unable to reach a third Democrat, Tim Davis, competing in the sheriff’s race.

GRUNDY COUNTY

Incumbent Sheriff Rodney Herring, a Republican, is seeking a second term in office. Mr. Herring, 37, has worked in law enforcement for 14 years. He previously worked for the police departments in Holden, Mo., and Columbia, Mo. He moved back to Grundy County in 1999.

“I feel like we’ve made some real strides,” he said. He referred to the recent opening of a new county detention center. “We’ve been able to get the deputies out more on the roads.”

David Trickel is one of Mr. Herring’s challengers in the primary. He is a Grundy County native who’s worked as a full-time deputy for seven years and as a reserve for the past 14 years.

“I have experience in dealing with government agencies and employees,” Mr. Trickel said. “I have been taught that people are to be treated with respect and compassion. I believe the public should look at a person’s character along with their qualifications.”

Clinton T. Griswold, 25, has lived in the Galt, Mo., area since 1993. He is a 2005 graduate of Western’s law enforcement academy and has worked as a sheriff’s deputy ever since. He has an associate’s degree in criminal justice and an associate’s in construction technology from North Central Missouri College in Trenton. He is a member of the Missouri Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Missouri Volunteer Firefighters Association.

Mr. Griswold said he is interested in interacting more with residents in order to understand their needs and concerns, toward providing better service.

HOLT COUNTY

Kirby Felumb, 53, is seeking a full term in office after becoming sheriff in a recent special election.

A Republican, he previously worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as a ranger and also served with Mound City Police Department and Holt County Sheriff’s Department. All told, Mr. Felumb has 23 years’ experience in law enforcement.

He attended the Missouri Western law enforcement academy. He belongs to several organizations, including the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.

“I’m still trying to provide effective law enforcement that’s cost-effective for Holt County,” he said.

Scott Wedlock, a 44-year-old Republican primary opponent, has been involved in law enforcement since he was 21. He has 25 years’ experience in emergency services. He graduated with honors from the Missouri State Highway Patrol police academy in 1986. He was a deputy with the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department and currently works as an officer with the Mound City Police Department. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University.

Mr. Wedlock said his campaign is focused on correcting overspending in the sheriff’s department. He said he will strive to improve responsiveness and is keenly aware of the impact of taxes on residents.

John Panning, who is running as a Democrat, has been a Holt County resident for 31 years. He has 12 years of law enforcement experience and is a graduate of the Missouri Western law enforcement academy. He has worked for the Holt County Sheriff’s Department. He currently works for the Mound City Police Department.

“I will work to provide a strong leadership and bring back a fundamental approach to law enforcement,” Mr. Panning said.

He will face Larry Helfers, who could not be contacted.

CLINTON COUNTY

The incumbent, 44-year-old K. Porter Hensen, is seeking a second term as Clinton County’s sheriff as a Democrat. He has 23 years’ experience in law enforcement and served as police chief in Lathrop for 14 years. He is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Academy. He completed a 120-hour law enforcement course at Missouri Western and also finished an advanced 200-hour law enforcement class at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Mr. Hensen said he hopes to “continue to give good service to the citizens of Clinton County” and believes in upholding the U.S. Constitution.

Leonard Eads, 61, has served with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department for 13 years, including more than two years as a major. He received his law enforcement certification in 1991. His experience includes the jail, dispatch and road patrol. He was the county’s emergency management director for nine years.

Mr. Eads said his goal is to return trust and integrity to the sheriff’s office.

Another Democrat, 61-year-old Steve Burris, is currently inactive in law enforcement. He worked five years each with the sheriff’s department and Lathrop Police Department. He completed a 720-hour academy at the regional criminal justice center in Kansas City. He also trained through the patrol and the criminal justice program at Central Missouri State University.

He described the main issues as being “more responsive to the needs of the citizens of Clinton County and trying to stay within the budget.”

HARRISON COUNTY

George Martz, 55, will seek a second consecutive term as sheriff on the Republican ticket. The Harrison County Commission appointed Mr. Martz in 2004. He had served as sheriff from 1989 to 1996.

Mr. Martz said he has 34 years’ experience in the county and had served as police chief in Bethany. He began Harrison County’s DARE program.

He identified the rising cost of fuel and its impact on sheriff’s patrols as an issue.

“The sheriff’s office has gone to six-cylinder vehicles that have much greater fuel mileage, and in this way we have held down the cost to the taxpayers,” he said.

He faces Phil Adams in the primary. Mr. Adams, 40, was born and raised in Kansas City before he became a Bethany resident. He is a U.S. Army veteran and served during Operation Desert Storm. He is a graduate of two law enforcement academies and has nearly a decade of experience as a Northwest Missouri police officer. He was a state corrections officer for four years and was a jail administrator for two private adult detention facilities in north Missouri.

The father of his wife, Marcia, was Melvin Smith a former state representative and a former Harrison County sheriff.

Mr. Adams said he wants to “develop some more effective law enforcement” for the

county.

“People are looking for a positive change,” he said.

CALDWELL COUNTY

Kirby Brelsford, 48, is seeking a third term as a Republican.

Mr. Brelsford has more than 20 years’ experience in law enforcement. He is certified in polygraph examinations and served as a judge for the American Police Dog Association.

He hopes to continue assisting in Caldwell County’s growth by overseeing his department’s budget.

“We’ve built a jail and helped the economy,” he said.

He faces fellow Republican Jerry Galloway, who could not be contacted.

Ben Becerra and Jerry Baldwin, candidates for the Democratic primary in Daviess County, also could not be reached.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.