By Kris Leonhardt

MARSHFIELD — After over a dozen years in office, Wood County Sheriff Thomas Reichert did not seek re-election on the 2018 ballot.

After the Aug. 14 primary, it was determined that Wood County Sergeant John Hiller (D), Marshfield, would face Wood County Captain Shawn Becker (R) in the Nov. 6 general election for the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

Hiller defeated Wood County Jail Administrator Theodore Ashbeck, 2657-2547, on the Democratic ticket during the primary, while Becker took out Wisconsin Rapids Police Lieutenant Joel Flewellen, 5104-2489, on the Republican ticket.

Local media sat down with Hiller and Becker to discuss issues and experience. Full video interviews are available online, by visiting www.hubcitytimes.com or wrcitytimes.com.

Here the candidates discuss their experience with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department:

John Hiller

“I’ve got 26 years in law enforcement – five of those years were spent down in Indianapolis in their police department. I did some part-time (work) when I got back to Wisconsin, and I’ve got 20 years on at the Sheriff’s Department. I’ve got four years activity duty in the military – U.S. Army, where I’ve served as company commander in a leadership position. I’ve got a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and I have been first line supervisor at the Sheriff’s Department.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-OXY9HAZPM&t=196s

Shawn Becker

“Looking at my career at the Sheriff’s Department, I have been there almost 22 years and a lot of the years that I have worked here, I’ve been in several leadership positions. I started as a patrol deputy in 1997 and had some extra duties, extra position there, being a training officer, getting an opportunity to lead new officers. I really like helping people out, teaching them. So, that kind of transitioned my career into some leadership roles. My first promotion was to patrol sergeant, where I oversaw one of our night shifts… Then, the next opportunity came up, and I was an investigator for five years… Our patrol lieutenant retired and Sheriff Reichert gave me the opportunity to have that position, which is a leadership position that covered the entire patrol division… I’ve been in a position like that just over eight years. We had a little bit of a restructuring going on at our Sheriff’s Department where there was another promotional opportunity for me to become captain, and I was fortunate enough that Sheriff Reichert selected me for that position.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV0IoHQCfFY&t=350s

To view other local media interviews with participating candidates on Wood County ballots, visit http://marshfieldtv.com.