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Ê KALKASKA - Nelson Gelinas has filed his petition to run for Kalkaska County Sheriff.

"I am running for sheriff to bring professionalism to the department," Gelinas said. I would like to make a positive difference, by opening the line of communication between the three law enforcement agencies and the fire departments in Kalkaska County.

"I believe in an open door policy for the department employees and also the citizens who live in Kalkaska Employees and citizens will be treated with the utmost respect."

Nelson has been in law enforcement for 18 years, a safety engineer for a major oil company and a business owner. Gelinas is a four-year US Air Force veteran, where he was trained in Provost Marshall General's School on Criminal Investigation.

His vast experience in law enforcement ranges from being a deputy sheriff, to working as a crime scene investigator (CSI) as well as an arson and fire investigator.

"As a safety engineer, I was trained in personnel management, team management and communication skills," he said. "As a business owner, I used budgeting and financial skills."

Ê Gelinas said he plans to select an undersheriff from within the department.

I will be a high-profile sheriff and will work hard to make Kalkaska County one of the safest counties to live in," he said.

Gelinas emphasized the importance of spending the taxpayer's money wisely, when working with the budget. "The Kalkaska County Sheriff's Department will be a department every citizen can be proud of," he said.

Gelinas and his wife, Shirley, have lived and raised their family in Kalkaska for the past 30 years. They have five children and 12 grandchildren.

Gelinas said that all of his children graduated from Kalkaska High School and that he currently has grandchildren attending Kalkaska Public Schools.

Compiled by Heidi Berden. Berden can be reached at hberden@michigannewspapers.com or 231-258-4600.