SERGEANT TOUTS HIS FRONT-LINE EXPERIENCE

Flathead County Sheriff's Sgt. Lance Norman says he believes his
experience on the front line of law enforcement helps him understand
what the community needs and gives him an edge over his opponents.

"We need a fresh approach to our office," he said. "We need a fresh
approach to leadership and to the changes that are going on in our community.

"I have that fresh-line approach. I currently know what the community
needs are," the sergeant said.

Norman, a deputy with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office for more
than 17 years, is in a three-way Republican race for sheriff.

He faces Sheriff Mike Meehan and former Undersheriff Chuck Curry in
the June 8 primary election. Since there are no other candidates, the
primary winner goes into the general election unopposed.

A Whitefish native and third-generation law officer, Norman listed
improving morale at the Sheriff's Office, cutting costs, increasing
education and changing the medical marijuana law as his goals, if elected.

"We need a strong leader in our office and in Flathead County," he said.

"Right now, our morale is at an all-time low, and we need a strong
leader to bring that morale back up at our office."

He said more deputies are taking sick and vacation leave than ever
before, retiring early and moving to other agencies, which Norman
said was "unheard of" in the past 20 years at the office.

He said the sheriff sets the tone for the entire office and added
that "the primary reason for the problems inside the Sheriff's Office
is a lack of quality leadership at the top levels." When problems
within the department arise, poor decisions are made and unfair
practices are implemented, Norman maintained.

Other changes he'd like to see include bringing more value to the tax
dollar. He said he would put fiscal responsibility "first and
foremost" so people can see where their money is going and how it is
being spent by the agency.

"We're going to have a much more open Sheriff's Office if I'm elected
June 8th," Norman promised.

To cut costs, he said he would explore alternate methods of housing
offenders, such as putting certain offenders in ankle bracelets
instead of a cell, which would enable an offender to stay at home
while still being supervised "to some extent." That would put housing
and food costs back on the offender, not the taxpayer.

Other ways for the agency to cut costs include increasing fuel
efficiency on patrol cars by installing lower drag-light bars and
utilizing push bars to lessen damage caused by collisions with deer.

"I'm willing to listen to their [taxpayer] needs and wants and we'll
make those adjustments if we can possibly do it," he said.

That would be through what Norman calls a citizen's advisory
committee, a forum that would enable the public a voice in its
law-enforcement agency.

"Right now, we look at things through law-enforcement eyes," he said.
"We want to know what the public wants to see the Sheriff's Office do."

Some public needs he believes need to be implemented include bringing
officers back to the schools.

"We need to start getting a positive image of law enforcement out
there and have that safety and security in our schools," he said.

Improving relations with the general public is crucial, he added.

He also thinks crime prevention education programs aimed at
everything from how to recreate more safely to being more savvy
online, to avoiding scams and identity theft, would be beneficial.

"Unfortunately, we're all getting preyed upon to various levels,
especially the elderly," he said.

Classes would be available to the public, free of charge. He said
fewer victims means fewer offenders preying on them, adding that
there might be fewer crimes if offenders had fewer opportunity to commit them.

Medical marijuana is also on his agenda.

Norman wants to amend the state medical marijuana law to only allow
the active chemical in marijuana, THC, to be distributed in pill
form. Such pills already are available through pharmacies, which
would regulate the distribution and allow the drug to be taxed.

As sheriff, Norman said having the backing of his office would give
him more authority when dealing with the state Legislature.

But first, he said, internal problems must be tackled.

His plans for improving morale at the Sheriff's Office include
enhancing communication internally between officers and the
administration, fostering transparency within the administration and
to the public, and getting rid of the "us and them mentality that we
currently have at our office.

"We need a sheriff that is willing to sit at the same side as our
association when it comes time for bargaining and be willing to
bargain with them to the county commissioners for the needs of the
office. That hasn't happened during the past administration; the
sheriff has been on the other side of the table," Norman said.

He plans to reduce the "top heavy" administration by two positions,
which along with "an entire new administration in place," will help
create a positive thinking, progressive administration that is there
to work for the office and the community.

He said the Sheriff's Office needs a strong leader "willing to stand
up and fight for his officers and his non-sworn personnel and
everyone that works in that office," adding that integrity and
accountability also are essential in earning trust.

"I also have some youth on my side. I have the tenacity to do the job
and I am the right leader for the position," Norman said.

He doesn't think his lack of administrative experience will hurt his chances.

"Jim Dupont went from being a patrol officer, non-ranking, to
sheriff, and look how he turned out," Norman said. "I realize I'm not
Jim Dupont, but you can go from being a non-administrator to an
administrator overnight and be successful."