Less than two weeks remain in Pepin County Sheriff's election race
Less than two weeks remain for Pepin County Sheriff candidates Kevin Glander and Joel Wener to campaign for the election.
The following is a series of questions the candidates were asked to answer earlier in the race. See next week's Courier-Wedge for a second round of questions from each of the two candidates.
What is your experience in law enforcement?
Glander: I have 27 years of experience in law enforcement. I have been with the Pepin County Sheriff's Department for 23 years, and previously worked with the City of Durand, City of Mondovi, and Buffalo County.
Wener: I have 23 years of law enforcement experience. I have been with the Pepin County Sheriff's Department for 19 years, and previously worked with the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Department and the Arcadia Police Department.
Where are you from?
Glander: I've been a resident of Pepin County for over 23 years.
Wener: I've been a resident of the Village of Pepin for 19 years.
What made you want to be an officer?
Glander: My uncle was the chief of police in Alma for over 30 years and I always looked up to him.
Wener: My uncle was the chief of police in Arcadia for 32 years, and I was close with him growing up.
What brought you to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department?
Glander: When I worked in the City of Durand, I liked the community and people, so when the opportunity to work with the sheriff's department came around, it brought me back to where I wanted to continue my career.
Wener: My wife is from Pepin, and the sheriff's department was looking for part-time help in the jail, so I took the opportunity to move to Pepin and take the job.
What else are you involved in?
Glander: Village Board, Pepin Lions Club, Pepin Sportsmen Club, and the Coordinating Service Team. I've taught bike safety, lead career day, done fingerprinting for students, and I've given talks on crime prevention.
Wener: I've been the Pierce/Pepin Emergency Response Team leader since 2009, and I was a DARE officer for seven years.
What made you decide to run for sheriff?
Glander: I’d like to continue to provide the citizens of Pepin County a safe environment, which I have worked to provide in my 23 years here. One benefit to working in a small community like Pepin County is knowing a lot of people in the area. When you take a call, you go through the entire process with them. There’s not always a supervisor on duty, so we have to make decisions ourselves, and sometimes it has to be a quick decison.
Wener: I have worked hard to hone my skills, and I have taken classes and trainings to help with leadership and management skills. I feel now is the right time to lead Pepin County into the future. The Pepin County Sheriff’s Office has always provided the citizens of Pepin County with the highest quality of protection and service, and has always worked closely with other law enforce- ment agencies and emergency services to provide safety and security to residents of Pepin County. This has allowed us to make our communities safe places to work, live, and raise our children.
What are your goals if elected as sheriff?
Glander: I'd like to see computers put in the squad cars, and possibly get an investigator to work with scams and other computer crimes. It would be nice to have someone to follow up more on drug complaints and do more undercover work. Protecting seniors is also a growing concern in the community. I'd like to continue to provide the citizens of Pepin County a safe environment, which I have worked to provide in my 23 years here.
Wener: My main goal is to continue to offer high-quality protection and service to keep Pepin County residents safe and secure. I also hope to continue the relationship with the Durand and Pepin Police Departments, fire and ambulance services, and first responders. I look forward to stopping and talking with the people of Pepin County.
