Mark Howie seeks re-election

Sheriff Mark Howie, who is running unopposed on the November ballot, has been working for 25 years in law enforcement. He came to Wahkiakum County as undersheriff for Jon Dearmore and has been the Wahkiakum County Sheriff for two years this October.

His focus and goals are fixed on the health and wellbeing of his deputies and his community and he has a few ideas about how to address those issues.

"I have real basic humanitarian thoughts on the community," Howie said. "I want the deputies to continue to build a rapport with the community and to feel pride in working for the sheriff's office. I want to continue to do what we're doing now to provide the highest level of services that we can for our little office."

Howie would really like a sixth deputy. Currently, five deputies are responsible for the entire county 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With so few, they are unable to cover every hour of the day. For a period of time, seven days a week, someone must be on call.

He has worked hard to increase revenue from the state and has been shaving off some of the office's expenses in order to ask commissioners to add a sixth deputy to his beleaguered office without added expense to the county.

"I've got enough to pay for another deputy," he said, "with benefits."

A sixth deputy falls right in line with one of his other goals, employee wellness.

"It's a hot topic in sheriff's offices across the country," Howie said. "Police suicides have increased dramatically. We have so many issues today that we didn't have yesterday."

Howie has plans to form an advisory group of staff, chaplains, a citizen at large and health and human services to brainstorm ways to improve "our physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing."

"If I can provide a more positive, healthy environment for our employees," Howie added, "it will do a greater good for our community."

Relationships are important to Howie. He encourages the deputies to attend public functions, as a reminder that they are not separated by their vocation but remain a part of the community. Paralleling national concern about violence in schools, his office has been working closely with local schools on prevention and security, with one deputy acting as a liaison. Another deputy visits Johnson Park each Tuesday in order to be available to concerned Westend residents.

"Public safety is the bottom line," Howie said. "I enjoy this position, I really do. I always have. The position of sheriff is an honorable historical constitutional position. It has a rich history. I don't take it lightly or take it for granted."