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Commissioners appoint Gary Taylor as Jerome County sheriff after split vote
Summary
The Jerome County Board of Commissioners voted April 20, 2026, to appoint Gary Taylor as sheriff; the motion passed by majority with Commissioner Watkins dissenting.
The Jerome County Board of Commissioners appointed Gary Taylor as the county’s new sheriff on April 20 after discussing three candidates nominated by the Republican Central Committee.
"After taking everything into consideration he came up with Robert Rausch as his pick," Commissioner Ben Crouch said during the discussion but ultimately moved to appoint Taylor; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Charles Howell. The motion passed by majority vote; Commissioner Art Watkins voted against the appointment.
The board debated candidates’ administrative experience and community feedback. Commissioner Watkins said he favored Matt West because "he did not hear a negative thing from anyone" in the east side of the county, while Howell said he prioritized input from people who work with the candidates and preferred Gary Taylor. Crouch said he evaluated interviews and outside law‑enforcement input before deciding.
The appointment was recorded as a formal motion during the meeting and carried with two votes in favor and one opposed. The commissioners did not record additional conditions or an effective start date for the appointment during the public minutes.
