Candidates' campaigns culminuate in Missouri Primary (2024)

(Undated) -- Results of major races hang in the balance in Tuesday's Missouri Primary.

Polls are open across the state from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. One of KMAland's more interesting races is for the Atchison County sheriff's GOP nomination. Four candidates are running to succeed Dennis Martin, who is not running for reelection. Currently a row crop farmer in Atchison and Holt counties, Matthew Heits retired last year after 28 years with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Heits says he decided to run for sheriff after Martin's decision to retire.

"Being in law enforcement basically all my adult life," said Heits, "it was a draw that I had at the age of 14 to be a Missouri trooper. I retired knowing that I could possibly run for office in the future. I decided to run for Atchison County sheriff simply wanting to make sure that our county law enforcement and our citizens have the best representation, the best leadership, the mindset that's needed in that type of office, and I thought that I would be the best candidate to provide that."

Born and raised in the Tarkio-Westboro area. Tyson Gibbons boasts 28 years of law enforcement experience, including almost 16 years as Tarkio's police chief. Prior to that, Gibbons served as an officer on the ATF Nitro unit from 2005-to-2008. Gibbons was an officer in Rock Port and Shenandoah before serving as an Atchison County Sheriff's Deputy from 2001-to-2005. Gibbons cites his law enforcement experience as a plus.

"As the Tarkio chief, I've had a lot of experience in dealing with budgets," said Gibbons. "Also, in my 28 years experience, I had an opportunity to work as a federal task force officer, working with a commission with the United States Marshall's Service, and assigned to violent crimes task force, where we deal with budgeting of money, and things of that nature."

A 30-year law enforcement veteran, Andrew Riley is a 1987 Tarkio High School graduate. He joined the U.S. Military and graduated from the Military Law Enforcement Academy in 1991. Retiring after 20 years of service, Riley joined the Greene County Sheriff's Office in 2008 as a commissioned deputy in the corrections division before serving as an Atchison County sheriff's deputy from 2010 to 2018. Currently, Riley lives in Tarkio and serves as a Nodaway County sheriff's deputy and narcotics investigator. Riley says he's running for sheriff because it's time for a change in the county's law enforcement. He also wants to bring his experience in narcotics investigations to fight drug problems in Atchison County.

"I want a community where kids aren't worried about what's going on," said Riley, "and they're not being put in the light of the way drugs are going right now. Crimes against children have increased since 2020. Drug overdoses have increased since 2019. It's a problem."

Devon Sons has spent eight of his 14 years in law enforcement with the Atchison County Sheriff's Office. In addition to serving as a sheriff's deputy, Sons also worked in the Atchison County Jail. He also served on the Northwest Missouri State campus police, as a jailer in Nodaway County and a sheriff's deputy in Holt County. A third generation law enforcement officer, Sons follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Sons says he's running for county sheriff to continue Martin's legacy, and to serve the community.

"I've been working with the schools in our community for the last eight years, as a school resource officer, on top of some other deputies in the community," said Sons. "I want to continue to serve and grow that program. I want to continue the legacy of his (Martin's) character, that he has held this office with. I just think it's time as he goes out that we continue that character, and continue that legacy. It has some use behind it. So, I'm looking forward to that, and want to serve that, and be a service to the community in that way."

Nodaway County residents also have a sheriff's race to decide, as three candidates vie to succeed incumbent Randy Strong, who is not running for reelection. Candidates include former Sheriff Darren White plus Austin Hann and Adam James. Contact your local county clerk for polling locations near you.