VOTERS IN ANDERSON COUNTY AND ACROSS KANSAS WILL DECIDE AN AMENDMENT TO THE KANSAS CONSTITUTION IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT IF SUCCESSFUL WILL MAKE ELECTING THE COUNTY SHERIFF A CONSTITUTIONAL GIVEN. THE AMENDMENT IS AIMED AT HALTING EFFORTS IN SOME COUNTIES TO STOP ELECTING THEIR SHERIFF AND INSTEAD HAVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPOINT THE POSITION. ANDERSON COUNTY SHERIFF VERN VALENTINES SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT MOST PLACES WILL GO WITH TRADITION AND CHOOSE TO HAVE SHERIFF’S ELECTED, NOT APPOINTED. A “YES” VOTE WOULD PRESERVE THE ELECTION OF THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF IN EVERY COUNTY.
ELECTED SHERIFFS HAVE BEEN A LEGACY DATING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL KANSAS TERRITORIAL STATUTES. VALENTINE SAYS THAT IF YOU DON’T HAVE ELECTED SHERIFFS, YOU DON’T HAVE ANYBODY IN BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE LAWS AND THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES WHO ARE THERE TO PROTECT THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND HE FEELS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEONE IN BETWEEN WHO DOES THAT.
