Custer County sheriff

And, he'd like to improve the qualifications of officers, "make them better to handle cases" with increased training.

Maydole faces Joel Peterson in the May 21 Republican primary election to be that party's nominee for sheriff in the November general election. The sheriff's salary is $62,000 a year. It's a four-year term. Sheriff Stu Lumpkin's term would have expired in January 2025, but he is resigning April 30, so an interim sheriff will be appointed by county commissioners, most likely in late May.

Maydole said the sheriff's office needs to become more transparent and the public needs to be kept informed of what the department is doing.

"The Custer County Sheriff's Office door has been closed for a long time between the community and government," he said. He wants to open lines of communication. One way for that to occur, he said, is "elected officials need to be present at government meetings, events and functions. They need to make themselves available to answer questions." If he's elected sheriff he'd want to meet with other community leaders to learn how he could help cities, schools, the ambulance service and search and rescue.

Maydole sees the sheriff's role regarding the long-discussed new jail and office building for the department as that of a mediator between the county commissioners and the public. 

As he's been campaigning he's heard from people that the public has voted three times to not build those things "yet it's still happening. There's a lack of communication between the commission and the public." He says the sheriff should advise commissioners on the location of a new jail and how it would be built. "It's the job of the sheriff to figure out how to put it all together," with input from the staff, he said. Maydole believes the construction will occur because the county has American Rescue Plan Act money to pay for a jail and office, but the public still needs to have explanations of those needs. 

Maydole said his "time and service" in Custer and Lemhi counties, which are small, rural departments, sets him apart from his opponent. "That and my knowledge of the area and of people in the area." 

If elected, Maydole said there'd be plenty to tackle in the first 100 days in office. "We need to do a complete evaluation" of how the sheriff's office "has been run and operated," he said, "and how we can make it better." He'd evaluate personnel and policy procedures and "correct any deficiencies." 

Part of that process would include steps "to be a little more clear and prepare that office for transparency so it's ready for the new administration without having to deal with old policies," he said.

If he needed advice as sheriff, Maydole said he'd first seek suggestions from other sheriffs, the Idaho Sheriff's Association, prosecuting attorneys and judges. If he was looking for help with policy matters, he'd talk to past and present elected county officials and employees. He would also count on fellow officers and investigators from such agencies as the Idaho State Police. 

"I've got tons of contacts from around the country to utilize to our benefit," Maydole said.

He acknowledges that he has shortcomings, just like everyone does, "but nothing that can't be overcome with time, training and resources." He said he's prepared to put in as much time and dedication as necessary.

Maydole would like to serve two terms as sheriff. A sheriff once told him he'd need four years to fix and repair things and make mistakes. Then in a second term a sheriff can "enjoy what you built," he said. After eight years, Maydole says he'll be retirement age and ready for it. He'd like to help "cycle a younger officer up and mentor them" so that person could then run for sheriff.

At the end of his term, Maydole said he would like people to say "I gave them a fair shake and I was a good sheriff."