SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) – “We are not done yet.” That was the message that Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber told his supporters late Tuesday night after winning a contentious race in the Republican Primary.
Bieber collected 60 percent of the votes, defeating the highly experienced John Gutho in Tuesday’s Primary, but now has to go back to the campaign trail.
“This was a big win. John Gutho is a good candidate and an accomplished candidate, but the voters sent a big message that they like how things are going.”
Bieber won by just over 1,200 votes. He swept the city of Shawano wards and showed strong support in the municipalities near the city of Shawano.
Gutho opened up the evening with a lead, getting high totals in areas in Western Shawano County where he lives.
While many of the area county Republican Sheriff Primary winners will be running unopposed in November, in Shawano County, Bieber now has to face another opponent.
“The history of Shawano County, Sheriff races have always been contested.”
While his opponent spent the campaign talking about what he would do, Bieber says he was able to campaign on what he has done in his first four years.
“I think they believe in the message that we have been preaching for the last for years that we all need to take personal responsibility, that we all have to be invested in making our community better, and that we all need to be prepared, we can’t just dial 911 and wait for someone else to do it.”
In November, Bieber will be challenged by Independent Shawano Police Officer Keith Sorlie, who is expected to get support form the Gutho supporters.
“We are going to be busy. We are going to be going to different events, talking to people door to door, through media and we are going to be keeping on with pushing our message.”
That message has been centered around encouraging the community to look out for themselves and others, highway safety, school safety, and an overall better relationship with other law enforcement and county officials.
He told his supporters that they should prepare for another contentious race.
“Even our supporters are getting attacked now because our opponents do not have a message.”
For now, Bieber calls it a big win and is taking this victory in before hitting the trail again.
