The deputies in Androscoggin County, citing county policy, have declined to go on the record in favor of either candidate for Androscoggin County Sheriff in next week’s primary. Their choices are the current sheriff, Ronald Gagnon, or Guy Desjardins, the sheriff’s former chief deputy.

We urge them to reconsider. Voters need some direction to make the best possible choice in electing the county’s sheriff.

Who better to direct them than the folks who have known and worked with these two officers for years? Who would know better than the folks who would be working for the new sheriff?

While this is a primary, both candidates are Democrats and there is no Republican candidate seeking this office. So, the winner of Tuesday’s election is a sure bet in the general election.

Oxford County deputies aren’t keeping their political opinions to themselves. They’ve vigorously endorsed Republican candidate Christopher Wainwright, a member of their own department. The sheriff there, Lloyd “Skip” Herrick, has also gone on the record in support of Wainwright over Alan Carr, the current Bethel police chief. The winner there will face Democrat Wayne Gallant in November’s general election.

In Androscoggin County, the deputies are leaning on a fairly recent county policy that prohibits county staff from campaigning, lobbying or engaging in any political practices while on duty, on county property or while in uniform.

Fine.

We are not asking for an on-duty caucus. We’re asking for the deputies, among themselves, to issue some kind of statement in support of one of these candidates to give voters some focus. They can easily do that off duty, off county property and out of uniform.

Election to the office of sheriff of Androscoggin County is no small job. The sheriff supervises 85 employees and manages a budget approaching $6 million, most of which is devoted to administration of the county jail.

Desjardins, who quit the department in January because he had “grown frustrated with Gagnon’s leadership style,” turned his frustrations into a challenge for Gagnon’s job, a job the sheriff has held for 21 years.

The public expression of Desjardins’ frustration begs a response from deputies who may feel similarly or not. However they feel, or whatever they think of these candidates, advising voters will be the best thing for the county and the sheriff’s department.