by David Hill
Editor
 
Candidates for Pennington County sheriff, Ray Kuznia and Craig Mattson, squared off for a debate and forum at Lincoln High School Wednesday afternoon. The event was organized by the social studies teachers at the school as part of its Kids Voting USA Minnesota curriculum. Kids Voting USA encourages civic engagement by teaching students the basics of responsible citizenship – the issues, the candidates, holding the elected accountable and encouraging youth to participate. Kids USA also encourages schools to provide an authentic voting experience.
 
Each of the candidates have been in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, but comparisons diverge when they start talking about experience and plans for the office of sheriff.
 
Each candidate was given three minutes for an opening and closing statement, and two minutes each to respond to student-generated questions. They were also allowed a 30-second period for a rebuttal.
 
Student questions ranged from how the candidates plan to make Pennington County a better and safer place to live to the toughest decisions they’ve had to make.
 
Mattson focused on his knowledge gleaned from advanced administrative training, experience as deputy police chief, and said there is a need for improved inter-departmental communication and cooperation, proactive law enforcement such as providing a more visible presence in the county, and wisely spending taxpayer dollars.
 
Kuznia focused on his proven track record of implementing technological changes, such as a modernized radio system, and Code Red that improve the safety and cooperation between departments, and a new drug task force. He also highlighted the existing cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and support from other personnel in police and sheriff’s departments.
 
The candidates traded jabs in a few instances that excited the students. 
 
While Kuznia focused on the many duties he performs that are not performed by police officers and the changes he’s made in technology, Mattson suggested that some of those technological changes were made without the benefit of networking with other departments and making the best investment of taxpayer dollars. Kuznia explained the changes have improved safety of officers and public, and that the 911 dollars come from a fund that must be spent or forfeited.
 
Mattson said the county records indicate that sheriff’s deputies made only 1.6 stops per week on average and need to do more. Kuznia said he didn’t know where Mattson got his information, but said not all stops were called in and that the few officers they have (one on duty at all times) are very busy performing the many jobs that police officers don’t have to perform.
 
And when Mattson talked about the need for cooperation and improved record keeping, Kuznia seemed to catch  him off-guard by mentioning that during a murder investigation a police officer told him that he had been instructed by Mattson to not share important information with the sheriff. Mattson said he never told an officer not to share information with the sheriff.
 
To their credit, the candidates kept their calm and remained composed during the exchanges.
 
Both said the most difficult aspect of the job of sheriff would be handling personnel issues and coaching others to make the right decision. Both have experience writing grants and obtaining aid for programs and projects. Both have used mostly their own funds to fund their campaigns.
 
In closing, Mattson reiterated what he saw as a need to improve communication, community involvement, implement proactive law enforcement and make the roads safer.
 
Kuznia, in closing, said he has a proven track record and there would be no learning curve. He challenged anyone to talk to any officer of the Highway Patrol, police department, state or other law enforcement to discover whether they communicate and cooperate, and said that under his administration, staff work well together. And while many technological changes have been made, more can be done.
 
Sara Olson, curriculum director for School District 564, thanked the candidates and social studies teachers of the District for making possible this debate and forum, which she said, is not available in many other school districts. She also mentioned that Kids Voting USA, supported by student volunteers and members of the local Rotary Club, will be at the polls where children in grades kindergarten through grade 12 can register their votes on Election Day.