Rob Snaza addresses a large gathering this morning in Chehalis as fundraising begins in earnest for his campaign to be elected sheriff.
Updated at 9:24 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – While Deputy Sgt. Rob Snaza announced via Facebook nearly a year ago he was running for sheriff of Lewis County, his campaign kick off breakfast this morning attracted some 150 individuals.
Current Sheriff Steve Mansfield told the crowd he endorsed him; his twin brother Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza introduced him.
Snaza told those assembled at the Lewis County Veterans Museum in Chehalis one of his three focuses will be rooting out career criminals.
“I’m going to go after those individuals dealing drugs and committing burglaries,” he said.
Mansfield spoke of the sergeant’s passion for making felony arrests – having been involved in more of them than any other deputy during Mansfield’s time with the office, Snaza spoke of carrying out requests by the sheriff to track people down.
“I’ve had to tell these people, I do not want you in this community, if you don’t want to be a true comitter,” Snaza said.
Mansfield called Snaza a responsible, respectful, fair and caring person who has been preparing himself for the post. Mansfield said he’s already been sharing some of the ins and outs of the position with him. And he offered a thought about the role of the sheriff.
“People don’t really care how much you know in this job, they only want to know you care,” Mansfield said.
Snaza’s other areas of interest should he be elected will be continuing to provide a no-frills jail and community partnerships, wanting to be in the schools, in the neighborhoods and involved with business and community leaders, he said.
Snaza is the SWAT leader and also the supervisor of the Lewis County Regional Crime Task Force. He’s also one of three elected persons on the board of commissioners for Lewis County Fire District 5 in Napavine, where he says he’s learned about budgeting.
Earlier this month, he was one of two deputies to be presented with Mansfield’s new Guardian Award.
“If you can find someone more passionate, I want to meet him,” Rob Snaza said.
Snaza is running as a Republican. His brother, who ran as an Independent in 2010 in Thurston County, is running now for a second term.
He asked for the support of those gathered. Mark Anders of the Lewis County Republicans asked for their contributions.
Records filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicate a little more than $6,000 cash raised on behalf of Sgt. Snaza’s candidacy since he registered last June.
Snaza is the chair of the Citizens to Elect Rob Snaza, his wife Jennie Snaza is the vice-chair and the treasurer is listed as Debbie Hamilton of Chehalis.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
By the way, I would get a definitive understanding of what the “Lewis County Regional Crime Task Force” actually is, what it does and how many people are assigned to it, full time. I would also get a full disclosure on the staffing level of the SWAT team. The Sheriff’s Department is notorious for misrepresenting and over representing their capabilities.
Before we get all ga-ga over the good sgt maybe we should look into his record of arrests vs convictions. How about the short cuts he and his ” squad 5″ unit took when conducting narcotics investigations, you know, finding alternatives to search warrants, short cuts that eventually lost the cases and forced the release of suspected dope dealers back into the community. There is a reason there is no longer a federally funded drug unit in Lewis County. You can thank the sheriff’s department for that.
Sorry “bahlsdeep” but “passion” doesn’t excuse shitty cop work. If he takes short cuts in those situations, where else does he cut corners out of his passion to get the job done. A PROFESSIONAL law enforcement organization should be LED BY A PROFESSIONAL. At this point the Lewis County Sherff’s Department lacks the leadership to be a truly progressive, professional policing entity. Replacing the current mediocre leadership with an even less qualified, immature, ethically questionable individual would be a huge disservice to both the citizens of Lewis County and the women and men of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, who have had nothing but inbred leadership for decades. It is time for a change. Time for new blood.
That is a curious comment alright. I suppose that comes from a sense of omnipotence that is the natural outgrowth of being in the clique. You know. The sense your above ever being held truly accountable.
Given the amount of public embarrassments the current Sheriff administration garnered. It’s certainly heartening to know this current candidate is the official hand picked successor of the out going Sheriff. At least the skeletons will remain tucked away.
The strategy for success remains the same for this area. Play on the fears of the elderly, and hang the tag of Republican on your mantle. Making sure your official banner is in the color of Army olive green.
The lemmings will flock around that, without a doubt.
Penny, I voted for the current prosecutor reluctantly because there was no way Lewis County could do worse than Liam Michael Golden. Golden was so bad John Panesko is no longer considered the worst prosecutor the county ever had, even counting Nelson Hunt. JM is not really bad, but he is not good enough.
It means go big or go home stat hound. If you can’t stand behind the people protecting you, feel free to stand in front of them, while the punches and bullets fly.
I am very puzzled by a statement made by the candidate for Sherrif.
He stated “I have had to tell these people I do not want you in this community if you don’t want to be a true committer.” I do not understand the meaning of this comment nor the intent behind the statement.
I do not question his passion nor his committment for the position.
Meet the new boss.Same as the old boss. ~Pete Townshend~
I totally agree with Bahlsdeep. Snaza is a very caring person and is passionate about the job he’s doing. I don’t think you could find a better candidate in the LCSO.
As usual, it seems most of the negativity comes from those who have found themselves on the wrong end of the law…
How in the world could I have forgotten TAXES? Guess there are places in my fantasy world too bizarre to even put on the map.
Snaza is a very proactive member of the law enforcement. He also has a genuine concern for the community as he and his family live in Lewis County.
GB – don’t forget that we’d have lower taxes too 🙂
If every elected official did what they said they’d do when they were running for office, we’d have no crime, no unemployment and responsible government spending.
That’s a BIG if.
Chances are, he won’t do half the things he promises and will only be around long enough to carry the black flag and nominate another successor.
More of the same.
Expect more people being murdered and/or having their civil-rights violated by the police and the state and federal governments doing nothing about it.
To “I left”….I find your thoughts to be interesting but would never refer to our elected Prosecutor as you have….that is more than disrespectful, it is rude. If you do not know Jonathan then you need to make an appointment with him and share your ideas. He is an intelligent, compassionate leader who is running the office as it should be run. He learns from our input and he deserves our support.
If this man is going to do what he says he said he would do iam for him and i was not. For him at all but after reading his comments I could Vote for him but I will be watching the campain and try to talk to him.East of Morton. Can uses a good clean up WE STARTTED A Neighbor hood watch that we never received from. The Sherrifs office and was susesful.in helping get a few dirt bags arrested I would like you to know I iam a X police officer and stand behind all of the officers in this. Ll Land.
“I’m going to go after those individuals dealing drugs and committing burglaries,” he said.
Shouldn’t he be doing that already? It’s his job.
Twin Brothers…
One brother is currently a county sheriff, the other is seeking the same office in an adjoining county. It appears to me to be sibling competition to the extreme and likely demonstrates a mentally unhealthy condition. For those who believe sibling rivalry and this particular situation is a good thing, then Snaza is your man for sheriff. For those of you who want adequate law enforcement, you may wish to vote for someone else.
why are sheriffs affiliated with a political party? They follow the laws not make them. Govt agencies are almost always liberal. Fear of loosing permanent funding if they dont spend the whole budget ect. So calling them anything besides a sheriff is misleading.
Until Lewis County gets a prosecutor with the balls to go after all of the family members involved in Rhonda Reynold’s murder, nothing will happen. Ron, Jonathan and all the rest should be jointly charged with first degree murder and tried as a group. However, the sheriff can’t do that and the blob won’t.
Sharyn, did you ask him about the Ronda Reynolds murder case, and what he plans on doing about it? If not, why?