SHAWANO, WI- Shawano County will have a new Sheriff in 2023. Sheriff Adam Bieber turned in his non-candidacy papers on Monday, stating the desire to have more time with family as the main reason.
Bieber has served as Shawano County Sheriff since January of 2015 when he was sworn in after defeating incumbent Sheriff Randy Wright in both the primary and general elections. He was re-elected in 2018.
“I wanted to announce early enough so people who may be interested in running for the next Sheriff would have time and not be caught surprised with the news,” Bieber told TCHDailyNews.com. “I made the decision a couple of months ago after we started discussing it as a family.”
Listen to Bieber explain why he decided not to run for a third term.
Bieber said some circumstances in the last two years played into the decision. The biggest comes down to family. “Our oldest son attends a school district outside of Shawano County and we have found it difficult for all of us with our different schedules to be together. I don’t want to miss my kid’s activities so we are making decisions based on that,” Bieber explained. “There is a window of opportunity for me to make sure my family is in a good spot. I only have 6 or 7 years with the sons that I have and I want to make sure I don’t miss that. “We want to make sure our other boys go to that school district so that we are all together.”
Bieber explains how having to split his family time was a big factor.
He said the other factor was some of the challenges that the last two years brought the world of politics. “This last couple of years, COVID-19, restrictions, and mandates started and it left no doubt what God intended my purpose to be and at this point in my life, I feel like I have served that purpose, and I am ready to move on and focus on things that are important to me and my family.”
Bieber explains that it was not all smooth sailing between him and the county this past year.
He says there has been some turmoil between the Sheriff’s Department and the County Board. “One Board member has made it known during meetings that he is okay with cutting services that our citizens want.” In public safety meeting late last year, Bieber did not see eye to eye with cuts that County Board Chairman Tom Kautza proposed making in order to fix a budget deficit. During the meeting, Bieber explained that those are important services. There was also some disagreement in the past year with how Bieber conducts his job interviews and his process of using citizens as part of one of the interview panels. Bieber has also had to fight for squad cars and body cameras for his department in the past year.
“The politics, the stress, and demands of the job are not always easy either and it’s hard on the family. There were some battles that I did not expect and it does play into this decision. If I have to walk away so the department benefits, then I am okay with that,” but family is the big reason for this decision.”
Bieber talks about what he was hoping to accomplish as Sheriff and says he feels he did that.
He said he originally ran for Sheriff to protect the citizen’s Bill of Rights and said he saw those rights being attacked seven years ago. “Those rights are still being attacked, even more so now. The last two years have been really stressful,” said Bieber. I have no problem falling on the sword of dealing with the politics and the stress of standing for our freedoms and I would do that any day of the week because our forefathers did that.”
The sheriff said he also feels it is time for new blood and new ideas in the position. “Politics should not be a career. You should serve a moment in your life and then move on.”
As far as the future, Bieber says it will depend on who decides to run. Traditionally, more candidates tend to run if they are not running against an incumbent, but candidates have not emerged yet.
Bieber addresses the future of the Shawano County Sheriff position.
“I don’t anticipate too many people running,” Bieber said. “There is one individual that has told me he is planning on running and I will support that person once he decides for sure that he is for sure going to run.” He told TCHDailynews.com that he is going to let that person decide when it is time to come forward publicly with a decision.
Bieber still has this year yet to finish out his second term and says there is still some more work to do in the county.
“We are focused on training our citizens and continuing to inform the community with information that they need to know. I also really want to focus on making our roadways safer.”
One example is County B by Shawano High School. Bieber says that is road and intersection that can be improved.”
Bieber talks about what he wants to accomplish in his final year as Sheriff.
“I have no regrets about my decision to run or my decision to not run this time around. I will never apologize for standing up for our rights, liberty, and freedom and I would do it again and will continue to do it when I am not Sheriff. I am going to miss being Sheriff, but I know I am going to enjoy the new challenges ahead of me and I am going to enjoy being there for my family, and I think it is the right decision.”
‘
“The great thing about America is that there are endless opportunities, and you can make your own future. There is no doubt that the past 2 years were very difficult and the politics around Covid-19 and Law Enforcement were very polarizing.”
“Being Sheriff does not define who I am, and I’m looking forward to the new opportunities ahead.”
“After 22 years in Law Enforcement, it’s time to move onto something different.”
‘
‘
‘
Comments