Bingham Sheriff’s Race Is Johnson, Rowland Rematch

Idaho Republicans have already selected a presidential nominee, but local campaigns are just starting to heat up ahead of the May primary.

One of them is the race for Bingham County sheriff, and it is between the same two men who vied for it in a very close 2004 election.

“It’s been a great career,” said Sheriff Dave Johnson. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Johnson wants this chapter of his 44 years in law enforcement to continue for a third term.

“I still have more to give,” he said.

But not if challenger Craig Rowland has anything to do with it. The county’s emergency manager has been watching from the outside and said it’s time for some change.

“I’d bring a little bit more communications and cooperation to the sheriff’s office and work with … all the cities and all the divisions of the county,” said Rowland.

“I don’t see where that’s a problem at all,” said Johnson. “We work very well with local agencies. We work well with state police. We work well with county agencies.”

Johnson said the Bingham and Blackfoot detectives became one unit during his first term, and he cited his successes: cross-trained employees, a recent crackdown on drugs and a significant drop in the number of traffic accidents and deaths.

His main goal moving forward is “more emphasis on domestic violence and suicide issues.”

Rowland said he would bring 26 years of law enforcement experience. He’s trained in incident command and mitigation, and he pointed out his role in managing last spring’s flooding and mosquito problems.

“Mitigation is taking care of a problem before it happens,” he said. “I’d like to work with the public and help them with committee watch programs … and what they need to look for to help law enforcement.”

The race is a little bit of deja vu. Johnson and Rowland both ran back in 2004, when Johnson won by a slim 45 votes.

“It’s going to be a busy couple of months,” said Rowland.

The deadline to file for the May election was 5 p.m. Friday. There aren’t any Democrats or independents in this race. Johnson and Rowland are both running as Republicans.