Jeremy Hyle expects the more than 200 members of the Kootenai County Deputy Sheriff’s Association to make an announcement by the end of this month on who the group will endorse for sheriff.

It’s the first time in recent memory that the association has been involved in screening a pool of sheriff’s candidates and having a vote.

The process is not being taken lightly.

“We want to get 100 percent of our membership to vote,” said Hyle, president of the association.

Since Sheriff Ben Wolfinger announced his retirement last year, six candidates emerged to take his place. They range from a Hayden businessman to former law enforcement officers and a current sheriff’s office employee.

Without an incumbent in the mix, the association sponsored a public forum last month where, before a packed house of mostly law enforcement workers, the candidates spent more than two hours answering a series of questions.

Before that, association members interviewed candidates.

Two frontrunners emerged: Kim Edmondson, a current sheriff’s office captain, and Bob Norris, a former Los Angeles county officer who retired in North Idaho.

Both candidates participated in another meeting with the deputies association Wednesday.

Hyle said he wants all members of the group, which is comprised of sworn officers as well as sheriff’s department civilian staff, to get to know the finalists.

“We’ll see who they want to endorse after that,” Hyle said.

Candidate Richard Whitehead, a former Texas lawman who operates a police training school, didn’t make the association’s final cut.

Whitehead was disappointed — “I would love to have their endorsement,” he said — but he said he had cautioned the group against being politically involved.

“It’s still too small of a county,” he said.

If the endorsed candidate isn’t elected to the sheriff’s slot by county voters, Whitehead said, the successful candidate may retaliate. At best that could result in a poor working relationship between the sheriff and employees.

If he’s elected, Whitehead said, he wouldn’t have hard feelings against association members, but he cautioned against endorsements.

“It’s not wise,” he said.

Sheriff’s candidate John Grimm, a Hayden businessman, said that despite not being invited before the deputies association a second time, he appreciates the process the association is following to reach their endorsement.

“I hope the questions asked will provide good insight into the two candidates who will be participating,” he said. “I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts and ideas in forums where the entire community is invited to hear from all of the candidates in this very important race.”

Although the sheriff’s race continues with a broad and wide open field that includes state representative, attorney and former law officer John Green of Post Falls, and former law officer Mike Bauer of Harrison, the issues may have less to do with experience than principle.

Norris, a member of Kootenai County Search and Rescue, has said his goal as a sheriff is to develop leaders instead of administrators by providing more training opportunities for personnel.

Bruce Mattare, who operates Norris’ campaign, said the deputy sheriff’s association has done a good job vetting candidates.

“It’s been very thorough,” Mattare said.

He expects a vote to take place soon among members.

“They want to make sure they support the right guy,” he said.

Edmondson, who has been a member of the organization for 25 years and a member of the sheriff’s office for 28, said having the deputy sheriff’s group vet candidates is a new task for the group.

She doesn’t consider her stature as a member of the department to be the advantage others may accord it, but being endorsed by the group would be an honor, she said.

“It’s important to me for sure,” Edmondson said. “Having been involved in it as long as I have, it’s definitely something that’s important to me.”

She lauded the association for its thoroughness.

“They are trying to do what they can to make a good decision,” she said.