Linn County sheriff seeks re-election

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner announced Friday he will run for a third term.

Before being elected sheriff in 2008, Gardner, 54, served as the office's second deputy with the rank of major, where he oversaw the patrol and communications division. He began his career with the Linn County Sheriff's Office in 1980 as a communications operator.

'I have very much enjoyed serving the citizens of Linn County for the past 35 years,” said Gardner, a Democrat. 'And hope that the voters of this county will allow me to continue to do so as their sheriff into the future.”

Gardner is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and of the National Sheriffs' Institute. He has an associate degree in law enforcement, a bachelor in criminal justice administration and a master's of public administration degree in criminal justice.

Among his accomplishments, Gardner cited leading the way for Linn County's $21 million communications system that enables emergency responders throughout the county to seamlessly communicate with each other; providing active shooter training to Linn County employees, school districts and businesses; and outfitting vehicles in the patrol, civil and transportation division with in-car high definition cameras.

'I will continue to ensure that we identify and invest in training and technological advances that will give our employees the tools necessary to provide the most professional law enforcement and correctional services possible,” he said.

The deadline to file for the primary is March 30.