Franklin County Sheriff's Race

Three vie to become your next Sheriff

July 30, 2026

By: C&K Trowbridge

Monty Huber Chris Lee Kohl St. Peter

The Aug. 4 primary election will narrow the three candidates for Franklin County sheriff to the voters' top two choices.

With Sheriff Jim Raymond announcing his retirement, this election season will determine who our next sheriff will be. The top two candidates in the August 4 primary will go on to the November general election. The top candidate there will ultimately take the seat. 

On Saturday, July 25, candidates Chris Lee and Monty Huber were in Connell speaking to voters. Lee chose to dknock on doors around the community, while Huber held a meet and greet. 

Lee serves as Connell’s Police Chief and Huber is the current Undersheriff for Franklin County. Both have military backgrounds and have years of experience in the field of law enforcement. The third candidate, Kohl St. Peter, also has some law enforcement background, serving on two police departments, including Connell. 

We asked each candidate what makes them a better candidate than their opponent.

“The biggest difference between my opponents and myself is experience working in the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office,” Huber stated, “A sheriff’s office is not a police department. Saying leadership experience in a police department equates to the same thing as a sheriff office experience is an apples to oranges comparison. They have different jurisdictions, are chosen by and answer to different people (the sheriff is hired/elected directly by the people), and the sheriff’s office has the additional duties of civil processes.” 

Huber went on to share that during his 23+ years with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office, he has developed a vast knowledge of the daily operations - both at the patrol and administrative levels. He has worked as a reserve deputy, deputy, patrol sergeant, captain, commander, and (current) undersheriff. 

“This depth of knowledge makes me uniquely qualified to step into the role of sheriff with no learning curve in regards to day to day business. I have led our agency into full accreditation and through reaccreditation (twice). I can offer a continuity of leadership no other candidate can provide,” Huber said, “There will be no implementation dip while the new sheriff figures out how things work. Please consider how this will positively impact the employees of the sheriff’s office and the high level of service we provide to our community.” 

Lee answered, “What separates me from my opponents is proven executive leadership. For the past five years, I have served as a Chief of Police, where I have been responsible for making difficult budget decisions, leading personnel, setting organizational priorities, and taking responsibility when things go wrong. That level of accountability only comes when you're in the number one seat.”

Lee also detailed his 25+ years in law enforcement and experience across patrol, investigations, supervision, command staff, emergency management, community partnerships, legislative issues, and executive administration. He shared, “I’ve built teams, developed leaders, managed complex operations, and worked collaboratively with others.

Lee added, “Leadership is more than experience; it's how you treat people. I lead with integrity, humility, accountability, and respect. I believe in developing employees, solving problems collaboratively, making principled decisions, and earning the trust of both the public and those I serve alongside. My goal is not simply to manage the Sheriff's Office, but to lead it with professionalism, stability, and a clear vision from day one.”

St. Peter responded, “I have worked for good leadership and I know what bad leadership looks like. No law enforcement officer in all of Franklin County has sacrificed more for the citizens and fellow Law enforcement officers, like I have. It's because I care about them.”

We also asked them their qualifications to be our next sheriff. 

Huber cited his education which includes both an Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Liberty University (Magna Cum Laude), as well as his career level certifications in first, mid, and executive level leadership. “I am a graduate of Command College, and hold the National Leadership Master Certificate.” 

Huber also explained that he served five years in the elected office on the Connell City Council, including three years as Mayor Pro-Tem. He served 12 years in the US Army including Army Airborne Ranger, Drill Sergeant, and a leadership instructor. He also worked at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, serving as a correctional officer and trainer, as well as a member of the Emergency Response Team and the Inmate Recovery Team. 

In the Sheriff’s Office he has served as a defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, police training officer, captain of investigations, special investigations, commander, and SWAT commander. 

Huber stated, “What all this military, corrections, and law enforcement experience adds up to is calm leadership under pressure. My military service taught me how to lead in the most demanding environments imaginable. No one ever wants anything bad to happen. But if a crisis ensues, you want someone in charge who can handle making the hard, immediate decisions. I am that person.” 

Lee expressed, “I exceed the statutory qualifications for sheriff and bring more than 25 years of progressively increasing law enforcement experience. My career has included patrol officer, K9, detective assignments, field training, training/instructorships, supervision, command staff, and executive leadership. I currently serve as Chief of Police, where I oversee personnel, budgeting, policy development, operations, training, community engagement, and long-term strategic planning.”

He added, “I am also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and have extensive experience managing critical incidents, interagency partnerships, legislative issues, and organizational development. I have an associates degree in exercise science and bachelor’s degree in government and business.”

Lee also reiterated his five years serving as the chief executive of a police department. “I've made the difficult decisions, accepted responsibility for outcomes, and led an organization through challenges while remaining focused on serving the community. That executive leadership experience prepares me to successfully lead the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.”

St. Peter stated, “I have worked for two police departments and three different Chiefs of Police. They were all gentlemen, followed the law and treated the public with respect. I know what good leadership is. Unfortunately Franklin County has been stuck with bad leadership. I want to be the generational change Franklin County deserves.”

We also inquired of the candidates “what motivated them to seek the office of Sheriff?”

“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has been my life’s work,” Huber expressed, “My entire law enforcement career has been spent serving this community. I am invested in the men and women of the sheriff’s office and the people we serve everyday. This isn’t just where I work. It’s my home, my community, and an organization I have dedicated my adult life to. I am running for sheriff because I believe that the sheriff’s office can continue to grow and adapt to the changing needs of our community. We have outstanding people and they deserve a leader who invests in them, supports them, develops future leaders and creates a culture built on trust, professionalism and accountability.” 

Huber added,  “We have a strong presence in county schools (DARE, Big Buddy Program, drop in visits), have solid connections with the agricultural community, a growing Bi-County Sheriff’s Posse, and the support of an amazing Franklin County Sheriff’s Foundation. I am running because I want every resident of Franklin County to have the confidence that their sheriff’s office is accessible, transparent and committed to protecting both their safety and their constitutional rights.”

 “Initially, I believed God was calling me to run for the Legislature to be a reasonable and logical voice in addressing policies coming out of Olympia that have increasingly tied the hands of law enforcement and made our communities less safe. Through prayer, counsel, and reflection, however, it became clear that my calling was not to write the laws, but to lead the people entrusted with enforcing them. That's what ultimately led me to run for Sheriff,” Lee stated, “I am running for Franklin County Sheriff because I am deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and building a Sheriff's Office rooted in integrity, accountability, and exceptional leadership. My purpose is to serve and protect the people of Franklin County with honesty, transparency, and decisions they can trust.”

Lee shared, “I envision a Sheriff's Office that is an active partner with our communities, one that relentlessly pursues justice, advocates for victims, supports deputies with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and works collaboratively to solve problems before they become crises. As sheriff, I will faithfully uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Washington, enforce the law fairly and impartially, and be a reasonable and logical voice for public safety. I will build a culture centered on courage, integrity, humility, selflessness, positivity, and duty.”

St Peter simply stated, “Ongoing corruption.”

What does success look like in the role of Sheriff for each of the candidates?

“Success in this role is two-fold - first, it means our deputies feel supported, respected and equipped to do their jobs safely. That as a leader I will mentor and lead by example. Secondly, that citizens know they can count on the sheriff’s office. This includes proactive patrols as well as calls for service, Huber said.

For Lee, “Success won’t be measured by my title. It will be measured by whether Franklin County has a Sheriff’s Office that the public trusts and deputies are proud to serve in, victims know will stand beside them, and our communities are safer because of the leadership we’ve provided.” 

St Peter shared, “Ridding the Sheriff’s Office of corruption and promoting qualified command staff, would be my measure for success.”

In light of recent issues between the County Commissioners and Sheriff Raymond, we asked how the candidates would work with the commissioners for the betterment of our county and its safety.

“The sheriff’s office and county commissioners have different responsibilities, but ultimately serve the same people,” Huber explained, “The sheriff’s responsibility is public safety. County commissioners manage county government, and make sure tax payer dollars are spent responsibly. Neither can be successful without the other.” 

Huber continued, “My relationship with the commissioners will be built on communication, professionalism, and mutual respect. My time on the city council in Connell provided me with the experience of balancing the city budget and establishing budgets for all departments, creating policy and ordinances to govern the city, and addressing the public’s concerns. I have a healthy respect for what our commissioners do for our county. I can relate to their responsibilities while advocating for the needs of the sheriff’s office and public safety for our community.” 

“Strong relationships and mutual respect are essential to effective government. I am honored to have earned the endorsement of all three Franklin County Commissioners, which reflects the relationships and trust I've built,” Lee stated, “As sheriff, I will work collaboratively with the Commissioners, other elected officials, public safety partners, and community organizations while respecting each office's independent authority and responsibilities. We won't always agree, but disagreements should be handled professionally, respectfully, and with the shared goal of serving the people of Franklin County.”

Lee added, “Throughout my career, I have built partnerships, brought people together, and found practical solutions to difficult problems. I will continue that approach because public safety is strongest when agencies work together rather than against one another.”

St. Peter said, “I would treat the Commissioners with respect and dignity. I will work harmoniously with them, and respect their role in government and stay in my lane. I will not gaslight the public against the Commissioners, using Sheriff's Office time and resources. I will not conduct malicious prosecutions against the Commissioners in retaliation for doing their jobs. I will not conduct illegal surveillance without a court order, on the Commissioners. I am the right candidate to navigate the mounting litigations, and repair the relationship between the Commissioners and Sheriff's Office.”

We also spoke to the commissioners about their top three priorities if elected as well as their top three safety concerns for the residents of the county and their deputies. 

Huber stated, “My top three priorities are successfully achieving reaccreditation in 2027 (This demonstrates we continue to operate utilizing best practices and at the highest level of professionalism), remaining fully staffed through comprehensive training and employee wellness (Bringing structure and stability to the agency and saving the county money in the long term), and continuing to provide proactive, professional service to our community.” 

Huber continued, “My top three safety concerns include traffic volume/traffic related incidents relative to rapid populations growth (need to invest in personnel, technology, equipment and partnerships to offset this challenge), individuals experiencing mental health and/or addiction crises (can be a danger to themselves, bystanders and the responding deputies), and employee health and wellness (support for the physical, mental and emotional demands of this position).” 

Lee shared, “ My first priority is strengthening leadership, professionalism, and accountability throughout the Sheriff's Office. Organizational culture starts with leadership. I will establish clear expectations, maintain high ethical standards, promote transparency, and ensure employees have the training, resources, and support they need to succeed. Second, I will focus on recruiting, retaining, and developing outstanding deputies and professional staff. Like agencies across the country, staffing remains one of our greatest challenges. Supporting employees, investing in training, and creating a positive workplace are essential to maintaining exceptional public safety services. Third, I will strengthen community partnerships. Public safety is most effective when law enforcement works alongside residents, schools, businesses, local governments, and community organizations. Building trust, improving communication, and working collaboratively to address crime will make Franklin County safer for everyone.”

Lee continued, “The safety concerns I hear most often from residents include violent crime, property crime, drug activity, traffic safety, and ensuring deputies have the staffing, equipment, training, and support necessary to respond effectively. Addressing those concerns requires strong leadership, proactive policing, and strong community partnerships.”

St Peter stated, “Leadership is priority number one. I will appoint the best into my Administration. From the outside and from within. Deputy and community wellness is also my priority. Being in LE is more demanding than ever. We must take care of our own. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) is a priority of mine. As your Sheriff we will be participating in the program and we will go after the worst of them.”

We hope this gave you a little more insight into the three candidates running to be your next Franklin County Sheriff. 

Be sure to get your ballot placed in a ballot drop box - located at the Franklin County Courthouse, near the schools in Connell, in Kahlotus, and at the new Elections Office in Pasco. There is still time to register to vote and to vote.. Ballots must be returned by 8pm on August 4.