EL PASO COUNTY – Sheriff Bill Elder has won his bid for re-election against Democrat challenger Grace A. Sweeney-Maurer.
El Paso County Sheriff
| Bill Elder (R) | 172,111 | 65 |
| Grace A. Sweeney-Maurer (D) | 93,246 | 35 |
Elder has served as Sheriff since his election in 2014. He served within the office starting in 1978 until the late ’90s on patrol, investigations and as the manager of the communications center. During a brief retirement period, he started a real estate business before coming back to law enforcement to serve the Fountain Police Department.
Elder told News 5 he expected to win reelection before results were announced.
“I expect that we’re going to win. We’ve worked hard. We’ve done the right things. We’ve knocked on doors. We’ve talked to voters. We’ve delivered on promises. We’ve done everything that we’re supposed to do win. So, you know, I’m glad it’s over,” Elder said.
During 2018, a big push under his leadership is targeting illegal marijuana grows, mostly in the eastern portion of the county. His office says criminals with connections to Cuba are coming to Colorado to grow marijuana which is then shipped to Florida for sale. Law enforcement across the state has stepped up enforcement against black market marijuana grows as a new law limiting personal grows to 12 plants per household.
Challenger Grace A. Sweeney-Maurer cited more than 40 years in law enforcement working with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Honolulu Police Department Training Division and the Allegheny Crime Lab as her qualifications to be Sheriff of El Paso County.
Her platform focused on providing “a voice for all” in the county, regardless of their immigration status or nationality. She wants to help the community by reducing overcrowding in the jail, working on mental health solutions and improving trust and morale.
