To the Editor-

Rob Golla is the one candidate for Portage County Sheriff who stands out. Rob is a longtime Portage County resident and has served honorably as a County Corrections officer for 23 years, working with some of the most dangerous inmates. Rob also has worked to help prison residents help themselves, through programs like Breaking Barriers and The Bully Project. Rob’s experience managing a wide range of offenders, from hardened criminals to those serving time for lesser offenses, gives him the experience needed to keep the public safe and reduce recidivism.

Rob Golla is fiscally conservative. He feels that the county can take common-sense steps to better utilize our current jail instead of building a costly new facility. His common-sense vision makes the jail a safer workplace for officers and inmates. A safer corrections facility will save taxpayer dollars, and so too will a home detention program. The tax savings with the program would be realized because it would reduce the excessive costs associated with transporting inmates to other counties.

Rob Golla believes it is important that the police forces of Plover, Stevens Point and the State Patrol work in a more cooperative manner. A joint Special Response Team would be able to serve all the citizens in Portage County safely and effectively. Tax savings would be realized with the creation of one highly skilled team.

Golla is also very concerned about the militarization of Portage County. Portage County and the Stevens Point police force have received very large armored military personnel carriers. While there was no initial cost to obtain these vehicles, they are very expensive to operate and maintain which will be an additional burden to taxpayers.

Rob Golla remains active in the community through his involvement with the Democratic Party. He supports middle-class working Americans, which is why he has served as chairman of the grassroots organization We Are Central Wisconsin.

Please join me in voting Rob Golla for Portage County Sheriff on Aug. 12!

Dan Bemowski

Plover