Rob Beidler makes bid for County Sheriff

Preventing and fighting crime are top priorities BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR A couple of years ago, when Rob Biedler and his co-workers began discussing Sheriff Rick Bart’s term ending in a couple of years and who they would like to see take his place, they decided it was time for one of them to throw their hat into the race.

After much discussion, it was decided that Beidler was the guy for the job.
“I didn’t just decide that I wanted to be ‘the man’,” Beidler said. “We (as a group) felt it was the right thing to do.”

One of his major concerns is stopping crime before it even happens.

“We need to change the mentality of the way we fight crime, not wait until the criminals make us victims,” Beidler said.

He feels that in some ways police officers have unwittingly become crime documenters and not always crime fighters.

“We need to go back to being aggressive,” he said. “We need to prevent crime to reduce it.”

Beidler has the endorsement of many police organizations including officer groups in Granite Falls, Lynnwood Arlington Marysville, Monroe, Snohomish and the Snohomish County Deputy Sheriff's Association.

He also carries the support of many of the fire fighter unions and organizations in the county.

Beidler has held leadership roles within the Sheriff’s department one of which has been North Precinct Commander. He also has a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in Human Resource Management.

He is modest about his leadership experience but knows that if he wins the election he will be able to perform the job at hand and make the department stronger through the support of his fellow officers.

“I don’t have a right to call myself a leader but I am proud that they do,” Beidler said.

Adam Fortney, President of the Snohomish County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is a staunch supporter of Beidler’s and is taking an active role in the campaign.

Fortney feels that with Beidler in charge not only will the safety of the communities he serves be affected for good but also the lives of the deputies with which he serves.

“I wouldn’t take personal time off if I didn’t fully support him,” he said.

With the understanding of a long-time police officer and as someone who lives in Snohomish County, Beidler concurs with Fortney.

“This affects all of Snohomish County,” he said. “We’re talking about the quality of life for everyone.”

Beidler brings with him 16 years of experience. He has served as a police officer for Snohomish City for two years and then as a Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputy since 1993.

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