Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday appointed Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Nelson to be the next county sheriff, his lifelong goal.

“The feeling when (Commissioner George Raiter) said, ‘Mark Nelson is the sheriff’ is pretty phenomenal,” Nelson said after being sworn in.

His father, Les Nelson, served 30 years in the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, including three four-year terms as sheriff.

“I couldn’t care any more deeply, truly, for any group of people or an organization than I do the sheriff’s office,” said Nelson, 53, of Longview. “When I say that I grew up with the sheriff’s office I mean quite literally.

“It’s been a part of my entire life. To be in this position right now is something that has been a dream of mine for a good part of my life.”

He said that on Oct. 1, his first day as sheriff, he’ll wear his father’s old badge.

He said when he first told his father, 87, that he wanted to be sheriff, “He said, ‘What do you want to do that for?’ ” Nelson said. “He was pulling my leg. He told me he thought I’d be a good sheriff.”

His mother, Wanda Nelson, brother Wayne Nelson (who retired as Kelso Police Chief March 31) and numerous personnel from the sheriff’s office, including retiring Sheriff Bill Mahoney, attended the commissioners special meeting Tuesday.

The sheriff’s department is one of the county’s largest agencies, with 56 employees, and is responsible for patrolling all unincorporated areas of the county.

Commissioners Raiter, Axel Swanson and Kathleen Johnson voted unanimously to select Nelson from a list of three candidates submitted by the Democratic Party precinct leaders. Nelson, who joined the sheriff’s office in 1990, will serve out the remainder of Mahoney’s term. He’ll have to run for re-election in 2010.

The commissioners selected Nelson over Bill Tiffany, 66, of Kelso. Tiffany, a former security officer and private investigator with eight years of law enforcement experience in Kelso and Klickitat County. Tiffany told the commissioners he will also run for sheriff in 2010.

A third candidate, Derl Moore, did not attend the meeting. Moore, chairman of the Cowlitz Democratic Party and an employee of Weyerhaeuser Co. timber employee, was nominated to fill a legal obligation to submit three candidates to commissioners.

In presenting their qualifications and ideas to the commissioners, Nelson emphasized his experience and familiarity with everything the sheriff’s office has to deal with, while Tiffany said it’s time to bring in a different person with fresh ideas.

Nelson said doesn’t foresee any big changes immediately.

“We’re in the midst of some difficult budgetary times,” he said. “Although we have requested additional personnel — and I hope the board is taking that request to heart — we have people dedicated and committed to getting the job done regardless. We’re going to do what we have to do with what we have.”

He said he’ll make an announcement on who will replace him in the captain’s position within the next few days.

He wants to put together a group of community stakeholders to address educating the public about safety, prompted by the eight drownings this summer in county lakes, rivers and backyard swimming pools.

“That’s more this summer than I ever want to deal with again,” he said.

Related articles:

Commissioners will name new sheriff Sept. 22  (Sept. 10)

Democrats name three nominees for sheriff  (Sept. 9)

Sheriff Bill Mahoney says he'll retire in September  (Aug. 3)