Winona County Sheriff annouces retirement

Sheriff Dave Brand has been in law enforcement for 44 years

WINONA, Minn. (WKBT) — Winona County will have a new Sheriff next term.

Sheriff Dave Brand announced Monday he will not seek another term, and instead will retire. Brand has been Sheriff in Winona County for the past 16 years and has been in law enforcement for 44 years.

The Sheriff says when he took office he set a number of goals and feels like he’s completed them all.

He is looking to retire from a job that for him, is there 24/7. “With missing people, drownings, working on special projects and that sort of thing and I want to commit more time to my family and my grand kids and, cause I’ve lost out on a lot over the years,” said Sheriff Brand.

Four people have announced they are running for Sheriff: St. Charles Mayor Bill Spitzer, Winona County Chief Deputy Ron Ganrude, and Winona County Sheriff’s investigators Ron Averbeck and Kraig Glover.

Brand says he will not officially endorse any of them, but will support his chief deputy. Ganrude officially filed his papers in Winona County on Tuesday, May 20.

Hopeful candidates have until June 3 at 5 p.m. to turn in their paperwork. If there is a primary election, it will be on August 12 and a general election would be on November 4.