They are everywhere at the Mower County Fair -- political parties and candidates.

And the latest includes Todd Clennon.

"I want to provide the motivation and leadership that the department needs to progress into the future," he said. "I want to be highly involved. I hope to provide the voters with a valid choice in this upcoming election."

According to Clennon, he filed to run for Mower County Sheriff on the last day of the filing period and after discussing the opportunity with family and friends. He also told his boss, Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp.

"It's always been a goal of mine to get into the upper echelons of law enforcement" Clennon said of his ambitions.

He has lived in Austin most of his life; the second oldest of four sons in the family.. He graduated Austin High School in 1989 and entered the U.S. Marine Corps.

By 1993, he was honorable discharged from the military service and back in Austin. Married, he and his wife,

a registered nurse, DeAnna have a daughter and two sons.

"The Marine Corps contributed significantly to my preparation to face the legal and social challenges

of today," Clennon said.

A military policeman, he also trained canine units with a special emphasis in the ares of narcotics and explosive detection as well as sear h and rescue.

"While there is no

doubt, that my Marine military police experience laid a solid foundation for my future in law enforcement, every position held after that contributed to prepare me for the many challenges facing society today," he said.

Clennon has worked for the Cass County North Dakota sheriff's department as a corrections officer, Kansas City, Mo. police department and since 1999, the Austin police department.

Clennon took time from a late-afternoon stint campaigning to talk about the county sheriff's job.

He said jail security can be improved by dealing with policies and administration as well as motivation of corrections officers.

He calls patrol deputies "the sheriff's department's greatest resource" and wants to look at updating the technology the deputies have at their disposal.

He supports "looking into" a new jail.

Clennon also said the relationship between the sheriff's department at the Mower County Attorney's office can be improved with "better communications and common sense."

He said he believes the public wants public safety officers as well as the entire criminal justice system to "aggressively go after" criminals.

"Common sense" comes up frequently when Clennon discusses his goals for the county sheriff's job. It's also a trait that Clennon believes more police officers and deputies must exhibit when dealing with the public.

"I would like to see the Sheriff's Office continue to be aggressive in its response to the concerns of Mower County's citizens and ensure that the county jail is a safe and secure facility," he said.

"I don't foresee crime in this area receding. I don't see us going back 20 years," he said.

Clennon also said he welcomes a debate with the other two sheriff's candidates.

(Editor's Note: The other county sheriff candidates, Amazi and Cherney announced their campaigns earlier and have been featured in the media. For more information about Clennon go to his web site www.clennon.com.)

(Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com)-