Sprungl re-elected sheriff

Republican Greg Sprungl will serve as Boundary County Sheriff for another four years.

Sprungl beat Inde-pendent Allen Gemmrig, who received 796 votes.

Write-in candidate Jeff Ennis, who serves as Boundary County’s jail commander, tallied 853 votes.

“I’m honored to be re-elected and I thank the citizens for trusting me with this position,” said Sprungl, who received 2,911 votes. “I’ll work hard to give you the best sheriff’s office as possible.”

“I’m glad that everyone ran a clean campaign,” added Gemmrig. “I think the voters did what they wanted to do. I probably should have been more available to the public.”

Sprungl has served as sheriff for 10 years.

The 60-year-old was initially appointed sheriff in September 1994 when former sheriff Bruce Whittaker resigned to take another job. Sprungl was elected in 1996, but lost to George Voyles in 2000.

When Voyles lost in the 2004 primary, Sprungl, who was also running, was appointed sheriff and was elected that November.

In between 2000 and 2004, Sprungl served with the International Police in the Kosovo Mission, where he was second in command for a large police station. Sprungl returned to work as an investigator on the Bonners Ferry Police drug task force.

Prior to getting into law enforcement, the longtime Boundary County resident working in logging and trucking.

As the county’s chief law enforcement officer, Sprungl oversees a staff of 29. They include sheriff’s deputies, emergency dispatchers, driver’s license and civil deputies, and the jail staff.

The sheriff’s office enforces laws, investigates crimes and accidents, and handles civil matters, including delivering subpoenas and evictions, handling non-payment of taxes, selling property and more.