OTTAWA — Ottawa City Commissioner Jeff Richards has submitted a letter to Franklin County Republican leaders seeking to be the next sheriff. County Republican committee members will select a successor to Jeff Curry, who is resigning April 1. Because Curry is a Republican, local party officials will pick a new sheriff at a county convention next Wednesday night at 7 at the Ottawa Church of the Nazarene. Richards is a long-time law officer. He is presently a senior detective for the Overland Park Police Department. He served in the Air Force during Desert Storm. He is also chair of the Franklin County Republican party. Some Republican officials say that retired Ottawa police detective Rick Geist will also submit a formal application to the Republican committee members. Geist lost a three-way Republican primary to Curry in August. Curry resigned under fire after he was charged with interference with a law enforcement officer and official misconduct.
Wednesday, March 27, noon
