Bausman drops out of sheriff's race

GRUNDY COUNTY- The first candidate to enter the 2020 Grundy County Sheriff’s race has ended his campaign for the position. 

Douglas Bausman, a cardiopulmonary manager for Unitypoint Health in Marshalltown who also serves as a reserve deputy in Marshall County and lives in Wellsburg, made the announcement on his campaign’s Facebook page last Wednesday, citing an increase in job duties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and an inability to balance them with a run for sheriff.

“I want to say to my supporters, I am very sorry. I have listened to you, and have heard your stories. Some of you have told me you prefer to be silent supporters, and I believe, especially you, I am letting down. You already believe your voice has not been heard and your opinion could be detrimental to you and your family although you are good citizens,” Bausman wrote in his post. “This should be a wake-up call to the Sheriff’s Department. Are you not listening? If you are, you aren’t giving people confidence that you will address their problems and act appropriately. Your job will be easier if the public is confident you are working for them and haven’t forgotten them. Show some transparency. Show some empathy to victims.”

Bausman, who did not submit the formal paperwork to be on the ballot in the June 2 primary, was planning to run as a Republican, and he would have faced off against current Chief Deputy Kirk Dolleslager in the primary. Dolleslager will now be the only Republican on the ballot in June, and a Democrat, Michael Lang of Grundy Center, has filed the necessary paperwork to run for the office. Lang, who currently works for Boulder Contracting, declined a request for comment from The Grundy Register at this time.

Dolleslager also declined to comment on the news.