Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander announced Monday he is seeking re-election.

Alexander has been the acting sheriff since fall of 2008 and was sworn in after being elected in January 2009.

"Shoshone County continues to face economic instability and our office and staff is ready and prepared to carry on what we have already started," he wrote in a press release. "I have had to make tough decisions this past term, but I am confident in my abilities to lead our team through more uncertainty.

Alexander has a challenger.

Gene Marquez, who has held positions with the United States Army, the Boise Police Department and Idaho State Police over a 24-year career, recently retired from the ISP, freeing him to run for sheriff on the Republican ticket.

"I planned on retiring, but I've been through a lot of school to take an administrative position, so I decided to seek the role of sheriff," he said. "I decided to run last February. I didn't like the way things were being managed, and I feel I could do a much better job in office."

Although Marquez is still relatively new to the Silver Valley - he has been here for nine years - he believes that his wealth of experience in other positions will prove invaluable.

"Looking at the experience level, it's clear that I have a lot more than my opponent. I have been in a variety of jobs and positions in my life to gain that experience," Marquez said. "I'm not a long resident of the valley, but taking that life experience outside of the valley, being throughout the state of Idaho and being in the military for 21 years gives me the real life experience that's needed to lead and bring the sheriff's department forward."

Alexander holds an advanced certificate from the Idaho Police Officer Standards Training Academy, a degree from North Idaho College in law enforcement, attended New Sheriff Training in Boise and also attended the Law Enforcement Executive Command College.

He said due to the economic downturn, his office lost seven positions since he took over as sheriff, and the budget has been cut considerably.

He said the deputies and staff have done a superb job of adapting while taking care of the citizens.

"Since I began as your sheriff, deputies have more than doubled their clearance rate of cases, which reflects a more thorough investigation to bring a resolve to the case," he wrote. "When I was elected, I promised to increase the quality of investigations done by deputies and the reported clearance of their cases reflects that increased attention deputies dedicate to each case."

Alexander said the sheriff's office has put considerable time and work into crimes against children cases, as well as domestic battery cases.

They work hand in hand with the domestic violence coordinator, Kelly Lavigne and Shoshone County Prosecutor Keisha Oxendine to put on training for local agencies, and working cases of domestic violence and assault.

He said his investigative experience has allowed him to pass on his knowledge to current staff.

"I am heavily involved in the community and I'm out there daily - whether it's having coffee with the citizens and/or returning phone calls," he wrote.

The sheriff's office continues to embrace new technology, while being fiscally responsible, he wrote. It has a website where people can send in tips anonymously or file a complaint on a member of my staff. It has programs such as Offender Watch and Crime Reports to ensure citizens are informed on crime in their neighborhood.

"I have and always will have an open-door policy to employees, citizens and I'm always available to meet and discuss issues, concerns or ideas people may have to do things better," he wrote.

Marquez said he would also work with the community to be sure residents have opportunity to have a voice in their local police agency, whether it's in the form of a tip hotline or a neighborhood watch program.

"The thing about working at the county level, is that it's all about working with the community and the different law enforcement agencies," he said.