SUMMIT COUNTY After gaining the nod of approval from his Citizens Advisory Committee last month, Sheriff John Minor decided to toss his hat in the ring for another term at the top of the Summit County Sheriffs Office. Minor is expected to formally announce his candidacy in the November sheriffs race on Wednesday, alongside four other incumbents holding county seats. The Republican sheriff said his decision to seek a second term weighed entirely on a performance evaluation handed down by his Citizens Advisory Committee in December, which showed success at the helm of the department.If they had disapproved, I wouldnt have ran, Minor said. When Minor formed the committee after he was elected in November 2004, he told the group he would rely on them for direction when it came time for re-election, said committee member Alan Wickert.We had a private meeting without John present. We unanimously endorsed him running again. There wasnt a single dissenting voice in the committee, Wickert said.There are about two dozen people on the committee including two high school students representing various aspects of the community, Wickert said.For the evaluation, the group reviewed some of the significant issues Minor has faced since his appointment to the sheriffs office in January 2004 from the controversial meth raid at a Frisco home to the Farmers Korner wildfire, where Minor helped lead the countys incident management team.There werent any surprises during the meeting as Minor discusses major events with the committee as they occur, Wickert said.Minors leadership skills, his knack for community involvement and his management decisions have made him standout as sheriff, Wickert said.He listens to the community very carefully, he listens to his people very carefully, hes done many things to improve the operation of the sheriffs department, Wickert said.With the blessing of his right-hand committee behind him, Minor is looking ahead to what he hopes to accomplish if he wins four more years as sheriff.He is working with Colorado Ski Country USA on raising the fine for a Colorado Ski Safety Act violation from $300 to at least $500, and hopes to see legislation on the matter in this session.Minor also plans to focus on the countys need for improved psychiatric care because he sees mental health patients cycle through the jail and end up back on the streets untreated.Hes been working with Colorado West Mental Health Centers advisory council on the issue, and said the county has made strides with plans to move the detox center out of the jail into the new Medical Office Building.He believes concessions need to be made on either a statewide level by making more beds available in Pueblo for patients who need a 72-hour evaluation, or on a countywide level with the creation of psychiatric unit in Summit County. Those are going to be huge challenges, Minor said. I dont know if its going to be doable, but were going to try.Minor highlighted continued collaboration with other local departments as a priority in the next four years, as well as consistent community involvement.The Summit County Sheriffs Office helped form the Conexion de Ftbol, an indoor soccer program design to promote positive relationships between youth and law enforcement officers. The sheriffs office also helped Silverthornes Adopt an Angel and Safe Summer Kickoff programs go countywide last year.The Board of County Commissioners selected Minor to fill the sheriffs spot in January 2004 when Gov. Bill Owens appointed Joe Morales as the state director of public safety.Minor defeated former jail captain Mike Phibbs in the August Republican primary election and ran unopposed in the November 2004 general election to finish out Morales four-year term.Other candidates runningAlso on Wednesday, Summit County Commissioner Bob French plans to announce his bid for re-election.French joined the Board of County Commissioners in July 2004 when Gary Lindstrom accepted an appointment in the State House of Representatives. The democratic French defeated Republican Jim Stover in the November 2004 general election, winning the BOCC position until the end of Lindstroms term. We got some things that need to get finished, French said of his motivation to run again. We started lines on fire mitigation, beetles, housing, you name an issue weve been working on them and Id like to push them along.Summit County Coroner Joanne Richardson will pursue a second term in her position. Richardson oversees three deputy coroners, and has compiled a comprehensive training manual and standard operating procedure guide during her three years as coroner. Summit County Clerk and Recorder Cheri Brunvand will run for her third and final term heading up the motor vehicles, recording and elections departments. Brunvand was appointed to her position in 1997.The primaries will be held Aug. 8 and the general election is slated for Nov. 7.Nicole Formosa can be reached at (970) 668-3998 ext. 13625, or at nformosa@summitdaily.com