Five candidates have filed papers to run for Howard County Sheriff in the upcoming election. 

      Current Howard County Chief Deputy and Jail Administrator Morris “Mike” Miner will run on the democratic ticket for County Sheriff in the upcoming election.
    Miner has served as Chief Deputy since 1999 and has worked with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department since 1977. Prior to that, he spent 15 months with the Cresco Police Department. He graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1977.
    “Sheriff Grinhaug has done a tremendous job,” he said. “I’ve had experience learning from him since the day I started.”
    Miner has gained experience with night patroling, investigative work,  being on the Northeast Iowa Drug Taskforce and working with the crime prevention program.
    “One of the duties as Chief Deputy is if the sheriff’s gone, you’re in control,” Miner said.
    Miner feels his experience with tasks such as scheduling, training deputies and dispatchers, setting budgets and completing administrative work will aide him if he is elected County Sheriff.
    “I love the job. It’s something different all the time,” he said.
    Miner, originally from Lanesboro, Minn., lives in rural Cresco with his wife, Diane Miner. They have three children, Matt, 28, Mike, 26, and Beth, 24. In addition to his work with the sheriff’s department, Miner farms corn and beans.
    Loel Reinhart, current deputy sheriff with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department, is one of three Republicans running for County Sheriff.
    Reinhart brings with him over 20 years of experience working in sheriff’s departments. He has worked for the Howard County Sheriff’s Department for the past three years, and previously worked at the Highlands County Sheriff Office in Florida.
    Reinhart moved to Cresco, where his dad lives, three years ago, after retiring in Florida.
    “I have a pretty extensive background and training and experience in law enforcement,” Reinhart said.
    Reinhart worked as a crime scene investigator for seven years and he believes his experience will help him if he is elected to the County Sheriff position. He also has experience working as part of a narcotics task force, and with road patrol.
    Reinhart is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served for 10 years.
    Darwin Kueker, a deputy sheriff with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department for the past 18 years, will run on the Republican ticket for sheriff in the June primary.
    Kueker also has 10 years of experience working with the Cresco Police Department.
    He received an Associate of Arts degree in police science from Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo and graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in Des Moines. He has also taken many continuing education courses throughout his years in law enforcement.
    Kueker said his experience and training would benefit him if he becomes the next county sheriff.
    “I want to continue the quality of law enforcement we have in this county,” Kueker said. “I would want to be the best sheriff I can be for everybody in the county.”
    Kueker lives just south of Cresco with his with, Diane Kueker, who manages Spectrum Thrift Store.
    Kevin Heide of Cresco will also run on the Republican ticket in the upcoming election.
    Heide, born and raised in Cresco, has over 30 years of experience in private and public security and 25 years of experience in both business administration and business management. His educational background includes business administration, business management, law and criminal justice.
    Heide, currently working in construction management, believes his experience, education and his interest in law enforcement will aide him if elected as sheriff.
    “I want to see our communities grow and prosper and at the same time provide a safe and secure environment for families and friends,” Heide said.
    Adam Newman, a democrat, also filed papers to run for the position. The Times Plain Dealer was unable to reach Newman before publication. A short article on Newman will run in next week's TPD.