Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

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Voter Guide

Dakota County Sheriff

The County Sheriff keeps peace and enforces laws to protect life and property. They respond to both emergency and non-emergency requests for law enforcement services and develop an effective, motivated workforce through education, training, and career opportunities. They also execute all processes, writs, precepts, and orders issued or made by lawful authority, attend upon the terms of the district court, and investigate recreational vehicle crashes involving personal injury or death that occur outside the boundaries of a municipality. Sheriffs maintain the charge and custody of the county jail and provide a secure and safe correctional facility with other law enforcement agencies.Use the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/) to find specific candidate contact information.Watch a candidate forum for this race recorded on September 4, 2026.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Bobby Lambert
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Joe Leko
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

What procedures would you implement to improve or maintain transparency in the sheriff’s department’s activities? (500 characters)

How would you describe your leadership style and how that qualifies you for the role of sheriff? (500 characters)

What can the sheriff’s office do to help respond to the need for gun violence prevention and safe communities? (500 characters)

What role, if any, do you think the sheriff’s office should play in immigration enforcement? (500 characters)

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Dakota County is my home, and serving as your Sheriff is personal to me. I have spent 29 years serving this community, building experience in nearly every area of the Sheriff’s Office, including 20 years in leadership. I understand the responsibility that comes with this position—to keep you safe, support and develop our employees, earn your trust, and be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars. I have been tested through difficult decisions and challenging times, and I have always worked to lead with integrity, accountability, transparency, and respect. I know this county, I know this profession, and I have the proven experience to lead. I am asking for your vote to continue serving you as Sheriff.
My top priorities are mental health, illicit drugs and overdoses, and domestic violence. I will continue strengthening crisis response and access to mental health resources; aggressively target high-level drug dealers while expanding prevention and education; and work with our partners to protect victims of domestic violence, hold offenders accountable, and connect families with resources. These issues impact every community, and addressing them requires strong partnerships and proven leadership
Transparency builds trust. In my first term, I dramatically increased community engagement, launched a mobile app, and expanded our website to provide public access to policies, crime and use-of-force data, programs, and other Sheriff’s Office information. I will continue expanding access to information, communicating openly about our decisions, and seeking community feedback before implementing technology that may raise privacy or public-trust concerns.
My leadership style is transformational. I empower people to succeed by providing mentorship, support, and opportunities to grow personally and professionally. I believe strong leaders develop others, encourage new ideas, and create an environment where people feel valued. I balance that support with high expectations, clear standards, and accountability. I lead by example, build trust, and give people the tools and confidence to succeed.
We must aggressively investigate gun violence and remove firearms from those legally prohibited from possessing them. Domestic violence accounts for a significant share of gun violence, making early intervention critical. We will work with our partners to identify threats before violence occurs. I will remain active at the Legislature, supporting solutions that protect our communities while respecting the Second Amendment and addressing those who pose a threat to themselves or others.
Local law enforcement does not have authority to enforce federal immigration laws. Our responsibility is to enforce state and local laws, protect constitutional rights, and keep the peace. That includes ensuring local, state, and federal law enforcement operate within their authority and treat people with dignity and respect. As I did during the recent ICE surge, I will be transparent, out front, and provide our community with accurate information while maintaining public trust.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.