Monroe County Sheriff Wes Revels will seek another term through a write-in campaign, setting up a November 3rd contest with Republican nominee Mike Krause.
Revels, who previously planned to leave office at the end of his current term, said he reconsidered after residents contacted him following the August 11 Republican primary. Krause defeated Chief Deputy Chris Weaver 3,697 votes to 2,147 to win the party's nomination.
"After a few days of thought and contacts by people who know me well, they were discussing the outcome of the primary and asking, 'What do we do now?'" Revels said. "This is me giving those people an opportunity to select someone else; to select me to continue as their sheriff."
No Democratic candidate filed for the office. Revels' write-in campaign means Krause will now face opposition in the November 3 general election.
Revels acknowledged the challenge of entering the race without his name printed on the ballot.
"Do I know that write-in campaigns are difficult at best? I certainly do," he said.
Why Run again?
Revels said public safety and the future leadership of the sheriff's office were the principal reasons for his decision. He argued that the county's chief law enforcement officer should have broad experience in patrol, investigations, personnel management and the operation of a sheriff's department.
Revels has 38 years of law enforcement experience, including 36 years in Monroe County. His career has included service in municipal and county law enforcement, as well as attendance at the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.
"When it comes to the qualifications for the position of sheriff, I think there really is no comparison," Revels said.
He contrasted his background with Krause's experience in corrections with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Revels said the sheriff is ultimately responsible for major decisions involving employee discipline and the department's response to critical incidents. Those responsibilities, he said, require an understanding of what is lawful, reasonable, and appropriate.
"We have a lot of great people, whether they are in dispatch, the jail or patrol," Revels said. "The people who work here and do the work are deserving of professional leadership."
Revels said he informed Chief Deputy Weaver of his intentions before announcing the campaign. He did not involve other sheriff's office employees in the decision, he said. He also notified local Republican Party leaders shortly before publicly announcing his candidacy.
Although his decision follows Krause's primary victory, Revels denied that the campaign is intended to disregard the choice made by Republican primary voters.
"I don't have any control over what they feel," Revels said. "But I've also had people tell me they intended to vote for Weaver in the general election. This is me giving them that option."
Revels said he plans to run a traditional campaign centered on meeting voters and presenting information about his record and experience. He criticized what he described as repetitive and inaccurate social-media claims made during the primary campaign.
"I'm going to provide factual information, and I'm going to get out and do the same things I did that got me elected the first time — meet with the people and work with my supporters in running a professional campaign," he said.
Future vision and past success
If elected to another term, Revels said he would continue several initiatives already underway within the department.
Among them is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which was restored using money from opioid litigation settlements. The program is entering its second year and currently serves students in Tomah, Warrens, Wyeville, Cashton, and Brookwood.
Revels also pointed to the department's cadet program, which introduces young people to law enforcement, emergency medical services, firefighting, and other public-safety careers. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office Charitable Foundation helps cover participation costs so financial limitations do not prevent young people from joining the program.
Other initiatives include a partnership with Next Steps for Change to provide peer counseling in the Monroe County Jail and continued staff support for the county's OWI and drug treatment courts.
Revels identified illegal-drug enforcement and employee safety as continuing priorities. He said the department must also keep seeking updated safety equipment for employees working in corrections, patrol, court security and other assignments.
Planned changes
Additional staffing, particularly in the telecommunications center, would be among his priorities if county finances permit, he said. More dispatchers could reduce the need for 12-hour shifts and make it easier for employees to take time off from what Revels described as a highly stressful job.
"I've always considered those telecommunicators to be the first responders," Revels said. "They take the calls, provide assistance through those communications and get the appropriate resources out to people in their time of need."
Revels acknowledged that county finances may limit the department's ability to add employees. He said expanded use of technology could help the department improve services without requiring the same level of additional staffing.
Revels was first elected sheriff after losing his first campaign for the office. He was subsequently reelected without opposition. He said the strongest reason for voters to write in his name is his commitment to the residents he has served throughout his career.
"This is about my plans for the sheriff's office," Revels said. "I have the best interests of the people of Monroe County attached to my decision to run a write-in campaign, knowing that it's difficult."
A sheriff's term is four years, with the current term ending January 4, 2027.
Mike Krause response
Republican candidate for Sheriff, Mike Krause said "I think this write-in campaign makes it very clear that the current administration does not want to give up their power and control."
Krause continues, "My experience is even more specific to state statute 59.27, which pertains to the duties of the sheriff. I have 14 years of supervisory experience, including 8 years of administrative supervision in an institution with over 500 employees and up to 500 patients. I have also owned and operated my business for 30 years," said Krause. "Actual law enforcement experience is not required for the position of sheriff, as it is an administrative position."
Monroe County Clerk Shelley Bohl said that a write-in vote is accepted based on the voter's intent and whether the name the voter writes is registered as a write-in. "We factor in whether the name that was written is registered, which Wes Revels is," she said. "After that, if the name is a misspelling, we can determine who the voter may have meant."
Bohl used the example that if someone spelled the name "Ravils", it would show the intent that they were voting for Revels but had misspelled the name. The vote would still count.
A write-in vote generally counts when:
A write-in vote generally does not count when:
The governing principle is contained in Wisconsin Statute §7.50: a write-in is credited to the intended candidate when that intent can be determined from the ballot itself. Election inspectors decide questionable ballots, with a majority determining whether the voter's intent is clear.
For more information view https://monroecountyherald.com/uploads/files/20260903-072729-b77-4095_001.pdf
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here