Newton Independent
A long-time Marshall County Sheriff's Office deputy announced on Thursday plans by local Republicans to nominate him by petition at a special convention later this month to run for Jasper County Sheriff in the November election.
Steve Hoffman, a Jasper County native and former Baxter police chief, announced that a local committee co-chaired by Aaron Axtell and Jack Maples, with Adam Otto serving as treasurer, has been formed to assist his efforts to win election to the Jasper County Sheriff seat held by Mike Balmer, who is retiring at the end of the year. Chief Deputy Sheriff John Halferty is running on the Democratic Party ticket.
Hoffman, who has 21 years of law enforcement experience, began as a Marshall County deputy in 1994. He has served in the detective division assigned to the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, as well as a training officer, traffic safety officer, and overseen community outreach programs. In 2005, he was promoted as the third-ranking officer in the agency of 60 personal. As chief of the jail division, he manages a 182-bed facility, a $2.7 million budget and a division of 34 staff.
Hoffman was a police officer and chief in Baxter, as well as having a brief appointment as a Jasper County Sheriff Deputy before being hired by Marshall County.
"Due to a procedural error by the Board of Supervisors at the time, my appointment to become a full-time Jasper County deputy sheriff was overturned, and in a twist of fate, Marshall County called," he said. "Since then, I have grown within an advanced, forward-looking and internationally accredited agency. Now I see opportunities for Jasper County to benefit from my experiences, as well as an opportunity to bring my family home."
Hoffman said that if elected, he would work to ensure that residents receive the best service possible.
"Great service, training and equipment take planning," he said. "I believe that I have the experience and skills to meet that challenge. It is my goal for citizens to be safe on the streets, in their homes, schools and places of work. I want people to go to bed at night feeling safe and knowing that if they need the Sheriff's Office, they are going to receive service from an effective, professional organization."
Hoffman, who is the son of retired Newton Police Department Sgt. Richard "Dick" Hoffman and Kitty (Gary) Meyer, has been married to his wife, Penny, since 1996. They have three children age 10, 8 and 4.
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