Larchwood, Iowa — A Larchwood man who is a former Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy and former Lyon County Supervisor is challenging the incumbent sheriff for the Republican nomination for the position on June 2nd.
Steve Michael tells us about his background.
(as said:) “I grew up down in the central Iowa area down by Des Moines, Iowa. I went to Northwestern College back in the late 80s and the early part of the 1990s. Ended up graduating from there with a BS degree in sociology with a career concentration of Criminal Justice. Went on to become a law enforcement officer down in Miami, Florida before coming back up to the Des Moines area, and I was with the Polk County Sheriff’s office in Des Moines before finally relocating up to Lyon County in 1994, when I took a position with the sheriff’s office up here. And I was there until 1999 late 1999 when I went into private business. I bought a convenience store in Inwood, Iowa. And truthfully, I wasn’t necessarily looking to get out of law enforcement at that time. I was looking to… just you know… an investment.”
But Michael says the people of Inwood treated him and his business really well. So well, in fact, that he couldn’t do it all, and had to make a decision between serving as a county deputy and running a business. He chose the business and says he’s been busy with other business ventures ever since, and helping to get the ATLAS organization — or Attaining Truth, Love, and Self-Control — off the ground in Lyon County. But he says his business experience prepared him well to be the sheriff. Another thing that he says prepared him well is serving on the Lyon County Board of Supervisors.
(as said:) “I sat on the Board of Supervisors for 12 years here in Lyon County representing District One, but as you know, when you are a board supervisor you get elected by one district but you serve everybody. So I did that for 12 years. Served three terms. Told the board in my… when I won the third term election that that was going to be it for me. I don’t think people should sit on those boards forever. And so I finished out my third term and I stepped away from that position.”
Michael gives us an idea why he wants to be the sheriff.
(as said:) ” I check boxes — I guess is the best way to put it. And those three boxes I’ve checked in by businesses. And when I looked at running for Sheriff, I’d looked at the same three boxes. One is do I add value to it? Two is can I make a difference doing it? And three is will it be better when I leave? And you know, I just looked at the sheriff’s office. Obviously. I have a background in law enforcement. I may not have the years of my… that the incumbent has in law enforcement, but again, as I said, I think the 20 years in business has prepared me well to be in that position and the business side of what that position entails as well. I haven’t forgotten what it is to be, you know, a small-town Iowa law enforcement officer. I can promise you that. That’s — I think that’s ingrained in anybody if you’ve done that.”
Michael tells us that he can bring substantial success to the sheriff’s office when it comes to the budget and leadership. He says he’s good at figuring out what people are good at and helping them to pursue their goals.
Michael adds that his experience with budgets will be especially helpful in dealing with the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as budgets are going to be tight and revenue could be down substantially.
According to Michael, he has a God-given talent for leadership.
(as said:) “I don’t think you can underestimate the power of a strong leader. At the end of the day if the leader is strong then everybody that’s beneath the leader working with the leader are strong as well. You lack leadership at the top and you’re going to lack leadership throughout the entire organization.”
Michael promises to serve Lyon County well if he can earn your vote.
The primary election is coming up on June 2nd. But according to the Lyon County Auditor’s office, due to COVID-19, there will only be one polling location for all of Lyon County — at the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids. You can still vote absentee at the auditor’s office up until the day of the election, but the deadline has passed to request a ballot be mailed to you.
