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Five candidates for Carver County Sheriff are on the Aug. 11 primary ballot. The top two vote getters will advance to the Nov. 3 election, with the ultimate winner replacing Sheriff Jason Kamerud, who has served in the nonpartisan role since 2019.
All five candidates responded to a questionnaire from the Carver County Local News, outlining their qualifications for the job and their priorities they will pursue if elected.
Their responses are below:
Patrick Barry, 50, resident of Mayer
Professional and volunteer background
I have served nearly 28 years in law enforcement, including 23 years serving the residents of Carver County and more than seven years as the chief deputy sheriff, where I oversee patrol operation, support services, dispatch, detention, emergency management and administration. My career has included assignments as a patrol deputy, detective, sergeant, patrol and investigations lieutenant, crime scene investigator, public safety diver, and field training officer. I have also served as a planning commissioner, charter commissioner. I am a proud member of the Waconia Lions Club, reflecting my longstanding commitment to public service, community engagement and responsible leadership.
What makes you the best candidate in this race
I have the experience, leadership and vision to lead the Carver County Sheriff’s Office on day one. As the only internal candidate, I have 28 years in law enforcement, including 23 years serving Carver County and more than seven years as chief deputy sheriff, which is second in command. I have led through some of the most challenging times in modern policing and know our staff, our communities and our public safety partners. My commitment is to provide transparent, accountable leadership while strengthening community partnerships, supporting our employees, and ensuring the Sheriff’s Office continues to deliver exceptional public safety services.
What would be your top three priorities if elected as sheriff
My top three priorities are
1) public safety and community partnerships
2) enhancing mental health response both in the community and within the jail
3) recruiting, retaining and supporting exceptional staff
Public safety is built on trust, collaboration and strong community relationships. Addressing mental health requires compassionate, professional responses that connect individuals with appropriate resources while improving outcomes and enhancing public safety. Our staff are our greatest strength. By investing in their training, wellness and professional development, we ensure the Carver County Sheriff’s Office continues to provide exceptional services to our communities for years to come.
Jessica Heger, 51, resident of Victoria
Professional and volunteer background
I am a special agent with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (we’re who the police call when they need help). Prior to that, I was a police officer with the city of Hopkins where I worked patrol, investigation and stood up the first-ever school resource officer program, which encompassed six diverse schools. Before becoming a police officer, I was a 911 dispatcher for Carver County. I am extremely active in Carver County Pheasants Forever and a member of the Victoria Lions.
What makes you the best candidate in this race
My experience working patrol, investigations and for the State of Minnesota’s top law enforcement agency has prepared me for this. I have built statewide programs and a school resource officer program from the ground up; this is organizational leadership. I have worked with stakeholders from across the state and the country regarding these programs. I have led hundreds of community outreach events, built relationships with residents and became a trusted law enforcement contact for many. I am ready to lead the Sheriff’s Office with integrity and transparency.
What would be your top three priorities if elected as sheriff
1) Employee recruitment and retention — The culture of the agency needs to change. Carver County will be a place where employees want to build a career, not just start one. We continue to lose employees at a rate far higher than any agency around us and it is not because of the job or the money.
2) Community Outreach — Carver County is a diverse community which means a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Employees and I will show up at events throughout the county so that we are not just someone in uniform but someone you know.
3) Mental Health — There are two sides to mental health, one being employees and the other the mental health calls for service that affect dispatchers and deputies. Our employees will be given the tools needed to properly do the job, and we will continue to expand the mental health program.
Darrell Huggett, resident of Waconia
Professional and volunteer background
A proud Carver County resident since 1992; Waconia has been our home for more than 30 years. I have more than 38 years of law enforcement experience, serving at every level from patrol officer to executive command in Minnesota’s largest sheriff’s office. Throughout my career, I have led large public safety operations, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, overseen patrol, detention, courts, administrative services and emergency management functions, and worked closely with local, state and federal partners. I am also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. My career has focused on building partnerships with communities, supporting first responders, mentoring future leaders, and serving the public with integrity and accountability.
What makes you the best candidate in this race
Experience and leadership matter. While every candidate has law enforcement experience, I am the only external candidate with executive command experience leading a large sheriff’s office. Command experience is not the same as a patrol sergeant. I have managed complex operations, developed and defended budgets, led hundreds of employees, and made critical decisions affecting public safety every day. I am prepared to lead on day one with a proven record of accountability, collaboration and effective leadership. My focus is on building a Sheriff’s Office that earns the trust of employees, our communities and our public safety partners.
What would be your top three priorities if elected as sheriff
1) Recruit and retain the best employees by creating a positive workplace culture where deputies and staff feel valued, supported and equipped to succeed. This is currently a huge concern with the Sheriff’s Office as there has been a very high turnover rate of deputies.
2) Strengthen partnerships with our cities, schools, fire departments, county leaders and community organizations because public safety is strongest when we work together.
3) Provide accountable leadership through transparency, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and modernizing operations to ensure the Sheriff’s Office is prepared to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s needs.
Adam Moore, 45, resident of Watertown
Professional and volunteer background
I have nearly 30 years of public safety experience, starting as a law enforcement explorer, reserve deputy and corrections officer. Joining the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in 2006, I worked across various divisions, gaining hands-on experience in the statutory duties of a sheriff’s office. Since 2017, I have served with the South Lake Minnetonka PD, becoming a patrol sergeant in 2021. In my current role, I supervise employees, ensure POST compliance, manage training and budgets, and direct the Highway 7 Safety Coalition. My career has prepared me to lead and effectively serve Carver County.
What makes you the best candidate in this race
I bring 30 years of public safety experience and a deep understanding of a sheriff’s statutory duties. But what truly sets me apart is my approach to leadership. I’m a servant leader at heart. To me, that means prioritizing relationships and ensuring my team feels supported. That culture is missing in many agencies and is the primary driver behind the retention problem at CCSO. I have the operational expertise to handle the job, but my true goal is to change the culture, making Carver County a destination department where officers want to build their careers.
What would be your top three priorities if elected as sheriff
1) Enhancing the culture of the Sheriff’s Office to repair the retention issue. Employees leave because of poor leadership and that is the issue plaguing the department at this time. Carver County Deserves Moore from their leadership.
2) Traffic safety. Traffic crashes remain one of the highest preventable causes of death in Minnesota. Our roadways were not designed for the amount of traffic currently present.
3) School safety. Minnesota is behind several other states in the area threat assessment, violence mitigation and violence prevention. Our Carver County students’ safety should be a top priority for all.
Matt Steen, 52, resident of Waconia
Professional and volunteer background
U.S. Army National Guard veteran and Richfield Police sergeant with 29 years of experience. Roles include SWAT, field training officer, special investigations, traffic grant manager, firearms instructor and rangemaster. Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Metro State University. Advanced training in supervision at Northwestern University, leadership in police organizations through the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and counter-drug operations at St. Petersburg College. An active member of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police (Chanhassen Lodge 6), Teamsters Local 320, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, NRA, and American Legion Post 150. A Special Olympics of MN and Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteer coordinator.
What makes you the best candidate in this race
I bring 29 years of frontline experience as a Richfield Police sergeant, including investigations and major event response. I’ve led innovation, managed grants and responded to crises like the Annunciation school shooting, strengthening my focus on school safety. The only veteran and an outside leader, I’m committed to leading from the front, patrolling, training with deputies, and grounding decisions in daily realities. I support community-oriented policing through high-visibility presence, genuine relationships and empowering deputies. Running for one four-year term under “Conviction Over Compromise,” my focus is practical: crime prevention, officer wellness, strong culture, and keeping every community and school safe.
What would be your top three priorities if elected as sheriff
My top three priorities as sheriff are
1) recruitment and retention
2) school safety
3) public safety with community trust
Addressing staffing shortages and overtime by building a supportive culture where good deputies want to stay, including competitive compensation, career development and a comprehensive wellness program with mental health support. Children’s safety is non-negotiable, so I will strengthen school partnerships, expand resource officer programs where needed, and ensure proactive training in threat assessment, active shooter response and emergency preparedness for every school. Finally, I will pair strong enforcement against criminals with proactive, community-oriented policing that builds genuine relationships while maintaining firm accountability.
