Rep. Mark Sterk Plans To Run For County Sheriff

State Rep. Mark Sterk said he plans to resign from the Legislature during the next session to run for Spokane County sheriff.

The Spokane Valley Republican, a city police sergeant, said he will seek the county’s top law enforcement post in 1998, when Sheriff John Goldman’s first term expires.

Sterk said he will resign his seat in the state House of Representatives in March. He was appointed to the state House in 1995 and then won a two-year term last fall. He is vice-chairman of the House law and justice committee and serves on the Transportation Policy and Budget committee.

Waiting until midway through the session to step down will allow Sterk to pursue bills he was unable to push through the Legislature this year and introduce his appointed successor to law makers, he said.

Sterk also acknowledged that turning over the reins to his Republican successor during the session will give that person an edge in next year’s election.

“We’ve got the Republican majority, and I’m a Republican,” he said. “Of course I want that to continue.”

Among the issues Sterk said he will address during his run for sheriff are community policing, the amount of free time county jail inmates are allowed, and recent Sheriff’s Department budget overruns.

Sterk said he believes deputies should be assigned to a specific section of the county and work more closely with SCOPE volunteers and other community leaders.

“It’s my absolute priority,” Sterk said. “I see it as the only way of policing that will, in the long run, affect the crime rate in the country and our community.”

Restricting the amount of free time jail inmates are allowed daily will cut costs, improve the safety of jail workers and send a stronger message of punishment to prisoners, he said.

During 22 years with Spokane Police Department, Sterk has been commander of the traffic unit, supervisor of the city’s gang unit and assistant police academy training director.

, DataTimes