Iolan Mike Aronson, who has served Allen County as either firefighter, ambulance personnel or law enforcement officer for the past 22 years, has thrown his hat into the sheriff’s race.
Aronson filed as an independent, where he will face either incumbent Bryan Murphy or one of his challengers, Jared Froggatte or Kelley Zellner, in the Nov. 8 general election.
Aronson submitted his application along with a petition filled with 400 signatures of registered voters, County Clerk Sherrie Riebel reported, well above the threshold needed to qualify for a slot on the November ballot. The names were verified Monday afternoon, making his candidacy official.
The filing deadline for independents was noon Monday.
Aronson worked full time for the Iola Fire Department from 1994 to 2009. From 2000 to 2009, he also worked part time as a police officer for the Iola Fire Department.
He shifted to IPD full time in 2009 until September 2015, when he joined the Allen County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy. He then left the Sheriff’s Department in June in order to rejoin IPD. He also served as a part-time emergency medical technician-intermediate for Allen County EMS from 2011 until the EMS services were merged with the Fire Department in 2013.
Prior to that, Aronson served in the United States Marine Corps from 1990 to 1993.
Republican voters will choose today between between Murphy, Froggatte or Zellner. Polls remain open until 7 p.m.
