Meet the candidates

BROOKINGS — When Marty Stanwick announced in The Brookings Beacon he would not run for another term as Brookings County Sheriff, it marked the end of an era.

Stanwick won seven straight elections for sheriff in town and will have served in that role for 28 years when he turns the office over in January.

To put that in perspective, the last time Brookings County had a different sheriff, Michael Jordan was just about to hit the game-winning shot in Game Six to beat the Utah Jazz and cement his sixth NBA title for the Chicago Bulls; James Cameron’s Titanic was king at the box office; and Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” was battling Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” and Wyclef Jean’s “Gone ‘Til November” atop the pop charts.

Three candidates have stepped forward to stand for the office, all with experience in the local sheriff’s office.

Shawn Hostler and Dave Biteler are vying for the Republican nomination, with early voting ongoing at the Brookings Government Center and election day on June 2.

The winner will face independent candidate Manny Langstraat in the general election in November.

All three candidates generously volunteered to answer questions for Beacon readers, along with providing a brief biographical sketch.

Their answers are presented here as a public service, edited only lightly for style.

David Biteler

My name is David “Dave” Biteler, and I have dedicated my life to serving Brookings County through law enforcement, military service, and community involvement. I was born at Brookings Hospital, raised around Brookings County, and graduated from Brookings High School. This community has always been home to me. My wife Becky and I have a blended family and together raised seven children here, and we are now proud grandparents of six. Family, faith and service have always been at the center of my life and continue to guide the way I lead and serve.

I currently serve as the Assistant Sheriff for Brookings County and bring more than 30 years of public safety experience, including 20 years as a certified law enforcement officer — all right here in Brookings County.

Throughout my career, I have served in many different roles, including Reserve Officer, Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Deputy Sheriff, Court Deputy, Jail Sergeant, Lieutenant/Jail Administrator, and Assistant Sheriff.

Those experiences have allowed me to work in nearly every area of public safety and have given me a strong understanding of the needs of both our rural communities and the city of Brookings. My background has also reinforced the importance of law enforcement agencies working together as one unified team to best serve our communities.

In addition to my law enforcement career, I am a proud combat veteran and served 22 years in the Army National Guard, retiring as a Sergeant First Class and Platoon Sergeant. During my military service, I deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. My time in the military reinforced the importance of leadership, accountability, teamwork and putting service before self — values I continue to carry with me every day.

Community service has always been important to me both in and out of uniform. I currently serve on several local boards and committees, including the United Way Board, Brookings County Mental Health Coalition, E911 Joint Powers Committee, JDAI Workgroup and Courthouse Needs Committee. I also enjoy participating in community events such as the Polar Plunge and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. I believe strong communities are built through relationships, collaboration and trust, and I remain committed to serving the people of Brookings County with professionalism, integrity and dedication.

Shawn Hostler

Brookings County has been home for much of my adult life, and serving this community has always been important to me. Whether through law enforcement, county government, business, or volunteer work, I’ve always believed in showing up, building relationships, and helping make our communities stronger. My wife Tracy and I have built our lives here, and we care deeply about the people who make Brookings County such a great place to live and raise a family.

Today, I serve as a Brookings County Commissioner, where I work on county budgets, infrastructure planning, policy decisions and public safety initiatives. I also serve as liaison to the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office, State’s Attorney’s Office and this year County Development/Emergency Management.

Before serving as commissioner, I spent 14 years with the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy and K9 handler. During that time, I served communities throughout the county and worked on efforts to modernize equipment and technology within the office to better support deputies and improve operations.

In addition to public service, I’m also a small business owner and longtime Aflac agent in Brookings. I’m a graduate of South Dakota State University and currently serve on the boards of the Brookings Regional Growth Alliance, Research Park at SDSU and Brookings Ice Skating Association.

Most importantly, I believe leadership is about integrity, service and people. I’ve always tried to lead by listening, being accessible and working collaboratively to help keep Brookings County safe, strong and moving forward.

Manny Langstraat

-I am a patrol supervisor with the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office, with years of experience working directly with residents across the county.

-Throughout my career in law enforcement, I have focused on being visible, approachable, and proactive in the communities I serve.

-I regularly attend community events across Brookings County to connect with residents, hear their concerns, and stay engaged with the people I serve.

-I have heard consistently from residents that they want better communication and a stronger, more visible presence from the Sheriff’s Office.

-I believe the Sheriff’s Office should be responsive, transparent, and actively engaged with the public, not just during emergencies but every day.

-I am running as an independent candidate for Brookings County Sheriff in the November 2026 general election.

-My goal is to strengthen trust, improve communication and ensure a consistent, visible presence across all areas of Brookings County.

-I have nearly 18 years of law enforcement experience, including 12 years serving on patrol with the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office.

-Prior to my law enforcement career, I served six years in the United States Air Force before settling permanently in Brookings County.

-My family and I live on an acreage near Bruce, where we have built our home and roots in this community.

-I served as a K9 handler for the Sheriff’s Office, working with two police service dogs, making criminal cases and assisting other officers and agencies on numerous calls.

-In my current role as a patrol supervisor, I remain actively involved in patrol work, continuing to make criminal cases and respond to calls for service.

-I work closely with local, county, and state agencies to coordinate responses and ensure effective communication across jurisdictions.

-My wife, Alysha, is a teacher at Volga Christian School, and our five children attend Sioux Valley School in Volga.

The Questions
What was the tipping point that made you decide to take out a petition and run for sheriff?

Biteler: For me, there was never one specific tipping point — becoming Sheriff was always something I worked toward throughout my career. From the time I started in law enforcement, I paid close attention to the supervisors and leaders around me: how they conducted themselves, how they treated people and how they led their teams. I always wanted to grow, improve myself and be prepared for greater responsibility. That mindset was instilled in me through my military service.

About two years after I became Jail Administrator, the Sheriff and I first had conversations about someday running for Sheriff. So when it became clear he planned to move in a different direction, I didn’t have to spend time deciding whether I was ready — I already knew I was.

Running for Sheriff isn’t something I suddenly decided to do. It’s something I’ve worked toward, trained for, and prepared myself for over many years of service.

Langstraat: I have spent much of my life preparing for leadership in law enforcement, whether through military service, patrol work, investigations, supervision or mentoring younger deputies. Over time, I began to realize I had both the experience and the vision to help lead the Sheriff’s Office into the future.

The tipping point ultimately came from conversations with my family, community members, coworkers and mentors who encouraged me to step forward. I care deeply about Brookings County, and I believe strong leadership requires being willing to accept responsibility when the opportunity presents itself.

Working for the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office has been a lifelong goal of mine. The opportunity to serve this county as Sheriff is both humbling and something I feel fully prepared to take on.

Hostler: The tipping point for me was when Sheriff Marty Stanwick announced his retirement. Having spent 14 years with the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office, I understand the importance of strong leadership, continuity and long-term vision within the office. Sheriff Stanwick dedicated many years to serving Brookings County, and his retirement created an important opportunity for the next generation of leadership.

At that point, I took a hard look at where the Sheriff’s Office is today, where it needs to go in the future and what experience I could bring to that role. Between my background in law enforcement, my current role as a Brookings County Commissioner, and my experience as a business owner, I felt I could offer a unique combination of operational knowledge, leadership, and forward-thinking ideas.

I ultimately decided to run because I believe the Sheriff’s Office needs leadership that can build on the strong foundation already in place while continuing to modernize, strengthen community relationships and prepare the office for the future.

What life experience of yours best prepares you to hold this office?

Hostler: I believe it’s the combination of my law enforcement experience, leadership experience, and real-world budgeting and business background that best prepares me for this role.
I spent 14 years with the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office serving as a patrol deputy and K9 handler. During that time, I worked closely with local agencies, responded to emergencies throughout the county, and helped modernize equipment and technology within the office.

Today, as a Brookings County Commissioner, I work directly on budgets, personnel decisions, policy issues, and long-term county planning. I currently serve as liaison to both the Sheriff’s Office and State’s Attorney’s Office, giving me firsthand knowledge of the operational and financial challenges facing public safety today.

In addition to public service, I’ve also spent years operating a small business. That experience taught me accountability, customer service, fiscal responsibility, and how to lead people effectively. I believe the Sheriff’s Office needs someone who understands both leadership and operations and who can work collaboratively with the community, county government, and other agencies.

Langsraat: What best prepares me for this office is the combination of leadership experience, frontline law enforcement experience, and community involvement I have gained over many years.

I served six years in the United States Air Force in Security Forces, where I learned discipline, accountability and leadership at a young age. I have worked in multiple areas of law enforcement including patrol, investigations, K9, SWAT, supervision, and administrative responsibilities such as budgeting, grant management, and equipment purchasing.

Most importantly, I have remained actively involved in the day-to-day realities of the profession. As Patrol Sergeant, I continue responding to calls, mentoring deputies, coordinating major incidents and working directly with other agencies across Brookings County. Those experiences have shaped how I lead and how I approach public service.

Biteler: Leadership.

Throughout my military career, my time with the Brookings Police Department and now my years with the Sheriff’s Office, I’ve worked my way through a variety of leadership roles and responsibilities. In each of those positions, I learned that leadership is built on trust, consistency, and earning the confidence of the people you serve alongside.

I’ve been fortunate to have strong mentors and dedicated coworkers who helped shape me throughout my career, and those experiences have prepared me for this next step.
Public safety leadership is different from leadership in the private sector.

Decisions often have immediate impacts on people’s lives, safety, and trust in their community. I believe my background and experience leading in law enforcement and corrections have prepared me to serve effectively as Sheriff.

What will be your biggest challenge be should you win this race? Your top priority?

Langsraat: One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement today is balancing increasing expectations with limited staffing and resources. Communities expect professionalism, responsiveness, transparency and visibility — and rightfully so.

My top priority will be continuing to build strong relationships between deputies and the communities they serve. I strongly believe people should know the deputies working in their area, and deputies should have a strong understanding of the communities they protect. We have seen success with dedicated deputy assignments in areas like Volga, and I would like to continue expanding that approach throughout the county.

I also want to continue strengthening communication with the public through more timely and consistent media releases so residents better understand what their Sheriff’s Office is doing and why.

Biteler: My top priority will continue to be strengthening relationships between agencies across Brookings County.

We have more than 80 certified law enforcement officers and countless public safety professionals serving throughout the county. When agencies communicate well and work together, our entire community benefits. Building and maintaining that unity has been important to me throughout my career and will remain a major focus as Sheriff.

One of the biggest challenges will be finding a balance between staffing the needs of the county while also supporting employee retention and family life. Law enforcement is demanding work that requires around-the-clock coverage, and that schedule can take a toll on officers, deputies, correctional staff, and their families.

We are fortunate to have people willing to make those sacrifices, often missing holidays, family events and important moments at home in order to serve others. But I also believe we should always be looking for ways to improve.

As Sheriff, I want to work closely with our leadership team, listen to employee feedback, and be willing to explore new ideas and scheduling approaches. Law enforcement has changed significantly over the years, and I believe supporting our employees and their families ultimately makes us stronger as an organization and better for the community we serve.

Hostler: One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement today is recruitment and retention. Agencies across South Dakota are struggling to attract and keep quality people, and that challenge is not unique to Brookings County.

My top priority will be strengthening the culture within the Sheriff’s Office while ensuring deputies and staff have the training, equipment and support they need to succeed. That includes investing in modern technology, creating clear advancement opportunities, supporting wellness and mental health, and building an environment where employees want to stay and build a career.

Another priority will be continuing to strengthen relationships with the communities we serve. Public safety works best when trust exists between law enforcement and the public. I want the Sheriff’s Office to be visible, proactive and engaged throughout Brookings County, not only responding to problems, but helping prevent them.

How has the role of law enforcement changed during your lifetime and career, and how do you view it moving forward? What do we need to change? What do we need to get back to?

Biteler: Over the years, law enforcement has increasingly become the “solve all” response for many different types of situations. In addition to responding to crime, officers and deputies are now regularly responding to mental health crises and other situations that are often outside the traditional scope of law enforcement.

Our law enforcement academies do a good job preparing officers for many aspects of the job, but mental health situations are complex and cannot always be handled strictly through statutes or enforcement actions. In rural areas like ours, we often do not have immediate access to mental health responders, which means local agencies must work to provide additional training and resources for officers to respond effectively and compassionately.

We have made progress with remote and online training opportunities, but I believe we need more hands-on, practical training provided directly by mental health professionals to continue closing that gap.

I also believe technology has changed the way people interact — including in law enforcement. While technology has many benefits, it has also made it easier to lose personal connection. I believe we need to continue getting back to face-to-face interaction, community engagement and relationship building. When people know and trust the officers serving their community, it strengthens public safety for everyone.

Hostler: Law enforcement has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Today’s deputies are expected to handle not only criminal activity, but also mental health crises, addiction issues, domestic situations, technology-related crimes and increasingly complex public expectations. The profession has become more demanding, more scrutinized and more technologically driven than ever before.

Moving forward, law enforcement must continue adapting through better training, stronger partnerships, and modern technology. We need to ensure deputies are prepared not only tactically, but also in communication, de-escalation and crisis response.

At the same time, I believe we need to get back to the fundamentals of community policing and relationship-building. People want law enforcement officers they know, trust, and feel comfortable talking to.

Visibility, professionalism, integrity and accountability still matter deeply.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that law enforcement is ultimately about serving people and protecting communities.

Langsraat: Law enforcement today faces far greater complexity than it did even ten or twenty years ago. Deputies are expected to handle not only criminal activity, but also mental health situations, addiction issues, technology-related crimes and increasing public scrutiny.

At the same time, communities still want what they have always wanted: deputies who are professional, visible, fair, and approachable.

Moving forward, we need to continue emphasizing training, professionalism and communication.

Deputies must be prepared for the realities of modern policing and understand current law, technology and best practices.

At the same time, I believe we need to continue focusing on relationships and community trust. The foundation of good law enforcement is still people knowing their deputies, deputies knowing their communities and treating everyone fairly and professionally.

Sheriff is a unique position in South Dakota as an elected officer in charge of a law enforcement division. How does that affect your responsibilities?

Hostler: Being an elected sheriff carries a tremendous level of responsibility because the office answers directly to the people. Unlike many leadership positions, the sheriff must balance law enforcement operations, county government responsibilities, personnel management, budgeting and public accountability all at the same time.

That means the sheriff has to be transparent, accessible and willing to listen to the community. It also requires strong relationships with county commissioners, local police departments, fire and EMS services, schools, the State’s Attorney’s Office, state agencies and community organizations.

I believe the sheriff should lead by example, set the tone for the culture within the office and ensure decisions are made professionally, ethically and in the best interest of public safety — not politics.

Langsraat: The Sheriff answers directly to the people, and I believe this creates a tremendous responsibility to lead with professionalism, transparency and accountability.

Unlike many leadership positions, the Sheriff must balance operational leadership with public trust.

Decisions made by the office directly impact the safety and confidence of the community, so it is important to remain accessible and connected to the people of the county.

It also means the Sheriff must be willing to listen. Brookings County includes growing communities, rural residents, farmers, businesses, schools, and families with different concerns and expectations.

Part of the responsibility of the office is ensuring all of those voices are heard and respected.

Biteler: The position of Sheriff carries a unique responsibility because it combines leadership in law enforcement with accountability to the public as an elected official.

The Sheriff must uphold the laws and Constitution while also being responsible to the public for decisions involving budgets, expenditures, staffing and the use of county resources. It requires balancing operational leadership with transparency, accountability and long-term planning.

The responsibilities of a Sheriff go far beyond patrol operations alone. A Sheriff must understand investigations, jail operations, civil process, emergency response, employee leadership, budgeting and community relationships. It’s important to build trust and communication with the public long before a crisis ever occurs.

As the only candidate with leadership experience across multiple areas of law enforcement and corrections, I believe I have the well-rounded experience necessary to meet those responsibilities and lead the Sheriff’s Office forward.

What are your views on the public’s right to know with the sheriff’s office specifically, and how will you work to balance those competing interests?

Langsraat: I strongly believe the public has a right to know what its Sheriff’s Office is doing. Transparency builds trust, strengthens accountability and helps communities feel informed and connected.

At the same time, there are important limits which must be respected. Ongoing investigations, victim privacy, juvenile information and certain sensitive situations require discretion and professionalism.

The balance is achieved through timely, accurate communication while still protecting the integrity of investigations and the rights of the people involved. I believe the Sheriff’s Office should communicate proactively whenever possible and ensure the public receives clear and factual information.

Biteler: The public deserves a Sheriff’s Office that is transparent, professional and accountable.

I believe accurate information should be released in a timely and responsible manner while also balancing the rights of victims, due process protections, and the integrity of ongoing investigations. There are times when information cannot immediately be released, but it is important to clearly communicate why those decisions are being made in order to maintain public trust.

As Assistant Sheriff, one of my responsibilities has been handling media releases and public communication. I take that responsibility seriously because I believe people deserve to understand what is happening in their community.

As Sheriff, I will continue to prioritize professionalism, transparency and open communication with the public we serve.

Hostler: I strongly believe the public has a right to transparency and accountability from its Sheriff’s Office. Trust is built when people feel informed and know their concerns are being taken seriously.

At the same time, there are legitimate legal and ethical limitations involving ongoing investigations, victim privacy, juvenile information, personnel matters and officer safety.

The challenge is finding the right balance between transparency and protecting the integrity of investigations and the rights of those involved.

My approach would be to communicate openly and professionally whenever possible, provide timely and accurate information to the public and media and ensure policies are followed consistently. I believe transparency should be the default whenever it can be done responsibly and within the law.

Linehan is the Beacon’s managing editor and welcomes story tips and comments at BrookingsBeacon@@gmail.com