Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for the Journal Opinion
On Nov. 3, Orange County residents will choose a new sheriff. Democrat Sean McCrae and Republican Jacob Held are vying for the job left open by Sheriff George Contois’ decision not to run for re-election.
While McRae says he would prioritize rebuilding staff, increasing transparency and strengthening relationships with local communities, Held says he would focus on expanding patrol services, improving communication and conducting budget reviews to better meet residents’ needs.
A Royalton native and current Bethel resident, McRae began his public safety career in 2015 with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as a dispatcher. The 33-year-old later became a deputy sheriff for the department under the previous Sheriff Bill Bohnyak, where he patrolled 13 of the 17 towns within Orange County.
Today, he serves as an assistant state fire marshal out of the Springfield office, a per diem police officer for the town of Royalton, and an EMT with First Branch Ambulance in Chelsea.
McRae said his deep connection to the county and belief in the department’s potential motivated him to run. He wants the sheriff’s office to build partnerships with emergency responders, mental health providers, and local service organizations. He proposed a 100-day plan which includes quarterly community forums, monthly public updates and stronger communication with municipal agencies. He also plans to increase visibility through business visits, public meetings and social media presence.
“I believe that the sheriff’s office should be just more than a law enforcement agency,” McRae said.
Held, 38, was born in Minnesota and moved to Vermont as a child. After returning to Minnesota as a teenager, he came back to Vermont at 26 and currently lives in Washington. In 2009, he supervised over 60 officers for Interstate Security Services, and acquired his Law Enforcement Degree and Peace Officer Safety and Training certification from Rasmussen University in 2012.
In 2024, he joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a civil process server, delivering legal paperwork. He went on to attend the Vermont Police Academy where he became a Level 2 certified law enforcement officer in March of 2025.
Held said he has worked to improve the department’s technology and public communication, including their Facebook page and a form where residents can submit anonymous tips.
Additionally, he has secured approval for Starlink internet connections in patrol vehicles to improve navigation and communication in areas where cell service is unreliable.
In the future, he wants to use body-camera footage to review complaints and public interactions, helping to distinguish situations that require discipline from those that could be addressed through training.
Held said his background, which also includes some business classes, would help him address staffing challenges, improve department management and strengthen local relationships.
“I got the management experience, I got the business experience, and I got the law enforcement experience. You add that up: sheriff,” Held said.
In interviews with the Journal Opinion, both candidates expressed staffing needs as one of their greatest concerns for the department. They each acknowledged that staffing has been an issue in recent years, but believe it won’t be a problem under their leadership.
McRae believes that he can create an environment where people would want to come work.
“I truly want to be as competitive as I can with local agencies to make it be more than just a stepping stone,” McRae said.
Held has proposed mutual aid agreements that would allow multiple towns to share patrol coverage and costs, making services more accessible to communities with limited budgets.
Both McRae and Held also emphasized the need for financial accountability. While the department has faced criticism for its bookkeeping in the past, both candidates say they believe in the importance of responsible financial practices and ensuring the department’s spending is properly monitored.
McRae said his focus would be on following the Vermont state financial filing and reporting requirements established by the state auditor’s office. He is also open to independent financial audits and regular reviews of the department’s spending.
Held, on the other hand, specifically supports using outside bookkeepers to provide additional checks and balances. He wants to make sure every cent is accounted for correctly, with two signatures on any check from both the sheriff and accounting staff.
“A sheriff would have to be good financially, transparent, open to the community, accessible, accountable and still be part of the sheriff’s department. Don’t just sit at a desk and run paper all day,” Held said.
Both candidates will be on the ballot on Election Day.