FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A CENTURY, A WOMAN IS SERVING AS A COUNTY SHERIFF IN IOWA.
LAST MONTH THE SAC COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PICKED KATIE STANGE TO BE THE NEW SHERIFF.
THE DEADLINE FOR CITIZENS TO ASK FOR A COUNTY-WIDE VOTE HAS ENDED — SO THE JOB IS OFFICIALLY HERS.
STANGE1 OC……LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.” :10
STANGE, WHO IS A GRADUATE OF MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY, STARTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND WAS THE DEPUTY SHERIFF.
SHE REPLACED JONATHAN MEYER, WHO HAD BEEN APPOINTED SHERIFF IN JULY WHEN SAC COUNTY’S LONG-TIME SHERIFF ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.
IN EARLY SEPTEMBER, MEYER RESIGNED AND ASKED TO RETURN TO HIS POSITION AS SERGEANT.
STANGE2 OC…..I’VE PROVEN MYSELF.” :10
SHE SAYS ONE OF HER TOP PRIORITIES IS PERSUADING VOTERS TO APPROVE BUILDING A NEW JAIL.
SAC COUNTY RESIDENTS WILL BE VOTING A BOND MEASURE TO BUILD A NEW COUNTY JAIL IN NOVEMBER.
LAST YEAR, A 10 MILLION DOLLAR BOND PROPOSAL TO BUILD A NEW SAC COUNTY JAIL FELL ONE PERCENT SHORT OF REACHING THE NEEDED 60 PERCENT SUPPORT FOR PASSAGE.
STANGE3 OC……..AS A WHOLE.” :16
THE CURRENT JAIL IS MORE THAN 80-YEARS OLD AND OFFICIALS SAY IT DOESN’T MEET CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS.
STANGE IS THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS SHERIFF SINCE GUNDA MARTINDALE, WHO WAS APPOINTED IN ALLAMAKEE COUNTY IN 1921.
THAT’S WHEN HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS SHERIFF, DIED IN OFFICE.
IT WAS COMMON PRACTICE AT THE TIME BECAUSE SHERIFFS DIDN’T HAVE PENSIONS THAT TRANSFERRED TO SURVIVORS.
STANGE WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION TO A FULL TERM AS SHERIFF IN NOVEMBER OF 2026.
Photo from Sac County Sheriff Facebook
