The Primary Election will be on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The Free Press reached out to the Marion County sheriff candidates Jeff Soyez and Travis Wilson to help voters get to know them a little better. We did not hear back from Wilson in spite of numerous attempts to reach him. Here are Soyez’s answers exactly as given with no editing.
Tell readers a little about yourself: I was born and raised in Marion County, Kansas. I was raised on a small farm and ranch. I graduated from Marion High School in 1992. I am a four-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. I joined the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in 2000, where I made my way to the rank of Sergeant/K-9 handler. I handled the majority of the large drug warrants and led the charge against methamphetamine production in Marion County. I left the Sheriff’s department in 2008. After leaving the Sheriff’s office, I became a Special Agent for the Union Pacific Railroad. I enforced railroad law and State law throughout the United States. I returned to Marion County Sheriff’s Department in 2022 as the Sheriff. My family and I still manage a small herd of cows and a hunting business.
Q. Why did you file for sheriff and what do you hope to accomplish as an elected leader?
I filed for Sheriff to complete the goals I set forth to accomplish. Mostly, to make Marion County
a safe place for our children to live and want to come back to. As an elected leader of Marion County, I have built the Emergency Response Leaders Board (ERLB). This board is to improve communications between Fire, EMS, and Law. By bringing these departments together, we can respond in an efficient manner for the safety of the citizens and responders. I believe every department has a say in how we respond and how the situation is handled. This also allows us to bring the incident back to the table to debrief the good and the bad of the call. This will help us be more efficient in our next response. As I like to say, “Go Team Marion County”.
Q. What do you think is the role of sheriff?
The Sheriff is to protect and serve the taxpayer. The Sheriff is the front line of defense for the citizens and their rights. The Sheriff must enforce State Statutes no matter his or her personal opinions or feelings. One of the most important components of being a Sheriff is the safety of the citizens, be it from crime, natural disasters or themselves, all while being mindful of the budget.
Q. What do you think are the most important issues facing Marion County and how do you propose to resolve those issues in the role of sheriff?
A. Mental health is one of our larger issues. There are different types of mental health issues. You have mental health issues that an individual is born with, mental health issues that are drug induced and mental health issues from abuse and neglect. Some of these issues are hand in hand. I have and will continue to work with Prairie View Mental Health to address these issues. We have and continue an open line of communications with our Mental Health provider. We are always brainstorming and looking for better ways. We have partnered with Prairie View to place programs in our jail to assist with needs. We have found that there are more programs that are needed after someone is released from jail. Prairie View now has programs to help support those in crisis after they leave jail. I have direct contacts with Prairie View and we keep an open line of communication with them. This is an
ever-evolving issue that changes all the time. Unfortunately, funding is the largest issue with mental health.
B. Drug enforcement is another issue. We have in the past used a County wide drug task force. When we get fully staffed again, we will reimplement the drug task force. We are one deputy short of being fully staffed again. This will keep an open line of communication between all agencies within the county to keep our thumb on the issue. I have zero tolerance for drug trafficking within or through our county. With the crime of drugs come the other elements of crime, such as theft.
C. Safety within our schools countywide. I have and will maintain a presence within our schools. Our children are our future. Their safety and wellbeing are paramount to this community.
D. I could go on and on with the important topic and issues facing Marion County.
