Madison sheriff will face former employee in Nov. race

There’s a new candidate for sheriff in Madison County, and until two weeks ago, he was a detective with that department.

Former Madison detective Travis Williams will run for sheriff as a write-in candidate against incumbent Sheriff Roy Klingler.

From his Sugar City home Monday, Williams told Local News 8 he is running on a platform of improved transparency within the sheriff’s office, and that this is not a “vendetta” against his old boss.

“I want to see some progressive change. In order to do that, you have to start somewhere,” said Williams. “My experience at the sheriff’s office has given me some great insight as to some programs and other things we can add and expand on.”

After we interviewed Williams, we talked to Klingler.

The sheriff said he couldn’t go into detail about Williams’ termination, but said it should be obvious why he is running against him.

“At this point, I think they can see this for what it is: sour grapes,” said Klingler.

Williams and Klingler both revealed Williams has an active tort claim filed against the sheriff’s office.

In the April 4, 2011 claim, Williams said he was disciplined after investigating an incident involving fellow officer Nathan Kerb and the Rigby City Police.

Williams claimed Madison County did not follow policy and procedure in the investigation of the personnel action. He also said Madison County denied him due process during the discipline.

Williams released the following statement:

“The direction I am taking is very clear on my website. In regards to the tort claim filed last year, employees should receive the same rights guaranteed to all citizens of due process and the ability to file a grievance as provided by the First and 14th amendments. Sheriff Klingler will argue he is following the established policy. This should scare everyone when an elected official thinks an office policy trumps the Bill of Rights. I would revisit the policy and change it to reflect the standards that everyone deserves which is an impartial outside investigation and an impartial appeal hearing as provided to everyone in this great country. ”

Klingler said the sheriff’s office denies most of the claims in the tort.

“We don’t agree with most of the information in there,” said Klingler. “We have followed all the rules and policies of the state and the sheriff’s office.”

Klingler said he wanted to go into more detail about the claim, but because the claim is an active legal matter, he was not able to.

You can read the full version of the tort claim under “related content” in this story. (Mobile users may have to switch to full-Web view.)