WEBSTER CITY — The two veteran lawmen who want to succeed Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons will be the focus of a Hamilton County Debate Night Tuesday at the Webster City High School auditorium, 1001 Lynx Ave., Webster City.

The event begins with a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m.; the debate begins at 7 p.m. The evening is sponsored by The Hamilton County Republican Central Committee.

This contested race for Hamilton County Sheriff will be boiled down to one by the June 4 GOP primary. Both candidates, Alex Pruismann and David Turpen, are running as Republicans.

Pruismann is a deputy in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Turpen is the chief of the Ellsworth-Jewell-Stanhope Police Department.

Timmons announced earlier this year that he would retire at the end of 2024.

At this time, there are no other candidates who have declared they are seeking the sheriff’s office. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be. The county candidate filing deadline is Aug. 28. That is the last day to file nomination papers with the Hamilton County Auditor. This includes NPPO — Non-Party Political Organization — candidates, candidates nominated by petition, and other existing party candidates.

According to the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, “Iowa law calls a political organization not meeting the statutory political party requirements a non-party political organization (NPPO). There are many NPPOs. NPPOs do not need to file any special paperwork to be officially recognized by the State. NPPOs may nominate one candidate for each partisan office. Candidates affiliated with an NPPO may be nominated in one of two ways: By circulating nomination petitions (this is the most common method) or by holding a nominating convention.”

Pruismann, of Blairsburg, began his law enforcement career with the Iowa Falls Police Department in 2010. In 2015, then-Hamilton County Sheriff Denny Hagenson hired him to be a deputy.

“The day I entered law enforcement, I had a goal of working for Hamilton County and helping make it the safest it can be,” Pruismann said.

He has said the sheriff’s position is a complex one that includes not only law enforcement but department management. Pruismann said his master’s degree in public administration with a police emphasis from Dordt University uniquely qualifies him to step into the role.

“This degree and experience has led me to want to help lead the Hamilton County Sheriff’s (Office) and make it the best it could possibly be, in every facet of the profession.”

Turpen became chief of police with the Ellsworth, Jewell, and Stanhope Police Department in 2020. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Business Administration degree in rehabilitation administration from the University of San Francisco. He is a graduate of Charles City Community Schools.

“While living and working in Charles City, I was able to join the Charles City Police Department as a reserve officer. My background in psychology and the work I did with individuals both in the private sector and as a reserve officer made me realize I was ready to make a change and pursue a career in law enforcement.”

His first full-time law enforcement job began in 2001 with the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy assigned to the jail. Shortly after starting in Black Hawk County he received a call from the Webster City Police Department, offering him a position as an officer. He transitioned from that position in 2007 when there was an opening at the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to Pruismann and Turpen, the county Republicans expect Kevin Virgil to attend the Debate Night. Virgil recently announced that he is challenging U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra for Congress in Iowa’s 4th District.