Here's what the Branch County sheriff candidates had to say during a community forum

No Democrats are in the one countywide race for sheriff, meaning the Republic primary winner will ultimately be elected.

Three candidates continue to campaign with a presentation being held on Tuesday at the Branch County Board of Realtors monthly coffee at Hope Café. Sheriff John Pollack has announced his retirement.

Fred Blankenship

A 28-year Branch County Sheriff's Department veteran, Blankenship has served as captain and jail administrator for the last 20 years.

"I'm the only candidate that has any administrative experience at the sheriff's office," he told the crowd.

A 1994 criminal justice graduate from Grand Valley State University, Blankenship is not a certified police officer but, according to MCOLES, would be able to carry out all the duties of an elected Michigan sheriff.

Blankenship, 54, is married to Amanda, a registered nurse. The couple have a blended family of six children.

The jail administrator points out his administrative and budget experience. "I have exhaustive knowledge in budget planning negotiations with the county administrator and have helped Sheriff Pollack maintain what is the largest section of the county budget in a fiscally responsible way."

Blankenship received the endorsement of Pollack and prior sheriff Warren Canon.

Blankenship called for body cameras for all deputies.

"I look forward to continuing Sheriff Pollack's initiative and collaborating with County Commissioners to maintain nightly road patrol for the safety of our community," Blankenship said.

Robin Swartz

A 29-year Branch County Sheriff's Department veteran with 15 years as a road patrol sergeant, Swartz retired and went to the Michigan Department of Corrections for two years.

The 60-year-old Coldwater High School class of 1981 graduate was offered a job with Coldwater Police, where she became the school resource officer.

MCOLES certified with numerous special trainings, Swartz served as a law enforcement officer for 37 years.

Swartz said she is running because "I believe that my knowledge from being out there is what we need to take the sheriff's office to a standard that the community deserves."

Swartz said she would ensure the deputies get the training and equipment they "deserve to be the best deputies they can be." She supports body cameras.

Swartz said our community faces problems. "It's a meth problem. It's a homeless problem. It's a mental health problem."

With her experience, "I've been out there. I've seen it. I can show these young people what it means to be a public servant."

The Navy veteran and her spouse, Lori LaBundy, have a blended family with four daughters and five grandsons.

Swartz is running as a Republican but admits, "Socially, I kind of lean a little bit liberal. But fiscally I'm more conservative. I believe that what most of us are, in the middle."

Michael Thyng

The seven-year Marine veteran became a reserve police officer and then graduated from the 105th Trooper Recruit School of Michigan State Police. After 20 years, he retired and became a Branch County sheriff deputy in January 2021.

Married for 42 and a half years, "I believe that family is the most important thing that we have."

Thyng, 66, said, "I adopted six grandchildren from my stepson's family, because they were incapable of taking care of children."

Thyng wants body and in-car cameras, and he wants AEDs in patrol cars for cardiac arrest situations.

Thyng was the first candidate to announce before Pollack announced his retirement.

He told the crowd, "I believe becoming sheriff is the way to help work on some of the things I complain about. As a police officer everybody should be honest and have integrity. If you can't be honest to yourself or to people, then you don't belong there."

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Thyng received the endorsement of the America First Republican Party coalition.

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com