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Louwagie enters Lyon County sheriff’s race

MARSHALL — Lyon County has been a good place to live, Steven Louwagie said, and he’d like to work to help keep it that way. Louwagie, an investigator with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, announced this week that he is joining the race for Lyon County Sheriff.

If elected, Louwagie said he wants to focus on building Lyon County’s future.

“I am excited at the opportunity to continue to ensure Lyon County remains a great place to live, work and raise a family,” he said.

There are now a total of four candidates running for sheriff this fall. Louwagie and Sgt. Jim Marshall of the Marshall Police Department both filed for office this week. Sgt. Eric Wallen of the Sheriff’s Department, and investigator Tony Rolling of the Sheriff’s Department, filed on May 22.

Current sheriff Mark Mather has said he plans to retire at the end of his term this year.

Louwagie is a graduate of Marshall High School and Alexandria Technical and Community College. He started his law enforcement career with the Tracy Police Department in 2004, and joined the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department in 2005. Louwagie became an investigator with the Sheriff’s Department in 2012. Through that role, he’s served on the county Child Protection Team and Refuge Board.

Louwagie also oversees the county “Take It to the Box” program, where people can safely dispose of prescription drugs. The program has been a successful one, he said.

“We’ve disposed of thousands of pounds (of drugs) since initiating the program,” Louwagie said.

If elected, Louwagie said, addressing drug abuse is one area that he would continue to work on. Other top priorities include mental health, and school safety. Louwagie said he would like the Sheriff’s Department to build relationships with schools in Lyon County.

“Community relations is important,” Louwagie said, and a good start would be for kids to have more day-to-day access to law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Department could help provide education, as well as being a positive presence for young people, he said.

Officers being an active part of the area community is also part of building more positive relationships with law enforcement, Louwagie said.

“The better people know us, the more comfortable they are to call us,” he said.

As sheriff, Louwagie said he wanted to continue to demonstrate leadership, integrity and commitment to Lyon County residents.

“I look forward to building on these values as I continue to serve the citizens of Lyon County,” Louwagie said.

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