The three men who want to serve as the next sheriff of Juneau County agreed at a public forum Monday that the man voters elect will face a tough budget.

"Grim, I'm sure," was candidate Seth Tully's summary of the budget problems facing the man who survives Republican primary voting Sept. 14.

The winner of the primary will be the only sheriff candidate on ballots in the Nov. 2 general election.

All three candidates, incumbent Sheriff Brent Oleson, and challengers Tom Czys and Seth Tully, participated in the one-hour forum at Hatch Public Library sponsored by the Juneau County Republican Party.

"Debate is part of the American way," said Juneau County Republican Party Chairman John Orton, who acted as timekeeper at Monday's forum.

And while there was no debate that the Juneau County Sheriff's Department faces an uncertain budget future, there certainly was debate on other issues.

Candidates had two minutes each to answer questions submitted in advance by members of the media and from some of the approximately 50 residents who attended the forum.

The forum was broadcast on radio station WRJC and moderated by station President and General Manager Rick Charles.

Oleson is seeking a fourth, four-year term as sheriff. Tully is a patrol lieutenant with the Adams County Sheriff's Department and, from 2003 to 2009, was chief of the Necedah Police Department. Czys is a 30-year veteran of the Juneau County Sheriff's Department who retired as detective last year.

The most contentious questions at Monday's forum concerned personnel issues, including the recent decision by a state arbitrator that the sheriff and County Board had erred when it fired Deputy Lynne Raiten in 2005.

The arbitrator ruled that Raiten merited only a one-day suspension.

Czys said he would end what he called the "public humiliation" of Sheriff's Department officers like Raiten.

"That caused a lot of embarrassment and concern to this county," Czys said. "I'm going to end that."

Czys said he would make more use of "progressive discipline" and employ outside agencies for internal investigations of employees.

But Oleson said he has used outside agencies to conduct investigations where appropriate after conducting his own independent investigation.

"The statute requires that," Oleson said.

Oleson said his handling of personnel issues has been appropriate and even handed.

"This last year-and-a-half, two years, has been more frustrating for me than anybody else in this room here tonight," Oleson said-an apparent reference to the contentious suspension and firing of Lieutenant Jeremy Haske.

Haske, who was fired by the County Board June 1 after a 12-day grievance hearing, has appealed the decision to the Wisconsin Circuit Court. A decision in the case will not come until after the Sept. 14 primary election.

Oleson said that the department he took over in 1998 had many more personnel problems than the department today.

"Each time I've requested a termination of a deputy sheriff, the committee has found that all seven just cause standards have been met ...," Oleson said.

Tully said he would restore missing camaraderie to the department. He declined to assign blame to any person for the department's recent personnel problems but pledged impartial and professional handling of personnel matters.

"We need to make sure the Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted," Tully said.

Tully said that, if elected, he would not eliminate the position of undersheriff in favor of a chief deputy.

Undersheriffs are appointed by the sheriff. Chief deputies are hired following regular hiring procedures.

Oleson also backed the undersheriff position.

But Czys said he would eliminate the position in favor of a chief deputy.

"All you're doing is [creating] another politician in law enforcement, and we've got to get away from that, folks," Czys said.

All three men agreed they would consider requests from Juneau County municipalities for contracted police protection, but all three also indicated they were not fans of the idea.

The forum was not without moments of humor. When asked to specify how much money they intended to spend on the sheriff's race, Tully said he would probably spend less than $3,000 and Czys said he planned to spend about $10,000. Oleson said he thought he had spent about $7, 000 or $8,000.

"But if Tom's going to spend $10,000, I'll probably spend $10,001," Oleson said.

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