EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete will face a challenge from a GCSO officer in the race for sheriff this year. Kriete announced his intention to run for a second term as sheriff Monday; Josh Sainsbury announced he was running for sheriff Tuesday. 

“There is still important work to be done, and I remain committed to leading with integrity, accountability and a focus on keeping Grant County safe,” Kriete said in an announcement posted on social media. 

In his announcement, Sainsbury said he wants to focus on leadership. 

“I’m running for sheriff because I care deeply about Grant County and the people who live here,” Sainsbury said. “I believe steady leadership, experience and cooperation are important in maintaining a safe and supportive community.” 

Sainsbury had been working as the GCSO chief deputy for emergency communications but was reassigned to a sergeant’s position after a discussion with Kriete on Monday. Kriete said he reassigned Sainsbury because he wasn’t sure they could work together effectively as they campaign against one another. 

“Because of the direction he wants to go – which, I’m okay with that – but at that point, it does erode my level of trust within my executive cabinet,” Kriete said. “I have to have a foundation of trust with my executive team to be able to get the best ideas, the best information, the absolute best decision that we make (with) the community in mind first, and the organization right alongside that. And that was what was eroded.” 

Sainsbury declined to comment on the reassignment. 

Sainsbury is a lifelong resident of Grant County, he said, and a GCSO veteran. He is a member of the Ephrata School Board, and he said he learned some lessons from that. 

“Serving on the school board has shown me how important cooperation is between schools, families and first responders. These same partnerships are essential to effective law enforcement and safer neighborhoods,” he said.  

Kriete first joined GCSO in 1993 and was elected as sheriff in 2022. He was working as chief investigations deputy at the time he was elected, and was chief corrections deputy for GCSO prior to that.  

“Over the past three years, the men and women of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office have accomplished some truly great things,” Kriete said in his announcement. “Together we’ve strengthened public safety, improved operations, invested in our people and continued to build trust within the communities we serve. I’m incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished and grateful for the support we’ve received along the way.”