Lane County schedules public interview for single sheriff candidate amid community calls for wider search and protections

Lane County officials confirmed Tuesday that the board will hold a public interview and possible appointment for the county sheriff after staff said one applicant met the minimum statutory and charter qualifications.

Public commenters urged the commissioners to pause and expand the search, press the candidate on pledges to uphold the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act and to adopt or update policies protecting transgender people and immigrants, and to ensure the new sheriff would defend local officials from federal overreach. The county’s human resources team explained the posting and screening process and said three applications were received; two did not meet minimum requirements and one qualified applicant remains for interview.

Multiple speakers during the public comment period asked commissioners to ensure any candidate would commit to the county’s sanctuary and nondiscrimination commitments. Emily Heilbren of Eugene said it is “very important that there’s a public interview and that the questions we have submitted be asked” and requested assurance the candidate would follow the board’s April statement, including the Oregon Sanctuary Promise Act and updates to jail policies to protect transgender people. Several other speakers, including neighborhood leaders, religious organizations and advocacy groups, echoed that request and asked the board to widen the search if responses are unsatisfactory.

County Administrator Mukherheisky and HR Director Alana Holmes described the staffing and timeline for the appointment. The sheriff posting was publicly advertised from May 16 to May 27 through the county’s NEOGOV system and other job channels. HR said the Lane County Charter requires that a sheriff be a legal voter and resident of the county with at least two years’ residency immediately preceding the term; ORS sets a minimum of 21 years of age and experience requirements (at least four years as a full‑time law enforcement officer, or two years of law enforcement plus two years post‑secondary education). Of three applicants, two applicants were screened out for not meeting the minimums (one from out of state and another lacking the experience threshold); one applicant — Chief Deputy Carl Wilkerson — was identified as meeting the listed qualifications. HR said the candidate will be interviewed in public at a work session scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Wednesday; after that interview the board may deliberate and act.

HR and the county administrator said the board solicited interview questions from commissioners in advance and will use those when meeting the applicant. No appointment was made Tuesday; the board will conduct the public interview and may then decide whether to appoint a sheriff to serve until the next election.