Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola has announced his candidacy for re-election.
RBC | Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola officially announces his 2022 candidacy for re-election. Mazzola has served the constituents of Rio Blanco County as Sheriff for the past seven years, having been elected in 2015.
“In 2015, I ran on being fiscally conservative and I am a strong supporter of the United States Constitution. I have lived up to those promises by only spending tax dollars on what we need and not what we want. Now, as a candidate for re-election in 2022, I intend to campaign and serve with the same fiduciary duty,” said Mazzola.
Last month, Sheriff Mazzola was elected by his peers as President of County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC), which is an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the Office of Sheriff by providing quality relevant programs and support with integrity, transparency, and accountability.
Previously, this position was held by one other sheriff from Rio Blanco County, retired Sheriff Ron Hilkey. Serving as CSOC President provides Sheriff Mazzola the platform to advocate for rural, western Colorado communities, especially with regards to legislation at State and Federal levels.
“In 2020 and 2021, I was part of numerous committees who sought amendments to several State-led law enforcement reform bills. As a board member of CSOC, we fought to strengthen the voice of law enforcement at the capitol. We did so by working together with the Colorado Chief of Police Association and the Fraternal Order Police. Together we made a tremendous difference in many bills that were presented,” said Mazzola.
Sheriff Mazzola’s recognition at the State level also includes a 2018 appointment by former Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, to serve as a board member for Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board. In 2021, he was re-appointed by current Colorado Governor, Jared Polis, for a second term on the POST Board.
His experience includes over six years’ time spent as an investigator for the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, four years of which he served as Chief Investigator of Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Pitkin counties until June of 2014.
Sheriff Mazzola has proudly served the public since 1985 when he entered the United States Army, serving for 4 ½ years and again in 1990 when he was recalled for Operation Desert Storm. Soon after his return from Desert Storm, he began his career in law enforcement with the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer. Moving up the ranks, he spent eight out of his 18 years at the Sheriff’s Office as Undersheriff.
Family and community are two incredibly important aspects of Sheriff Mazzola’s life.
“My true joy in life is spending time with my family. My wife of 40 years, Cheryl, and I have one son, Anthony, who, like Cheryl and I, grew up in Meeker. I am very active in the Meeker Lions Club, where I served as President for two years. I am a member of the local V.F.W. Post 5843 and served as the President of the Board of Directors for the White River Electric Association (WREA). Currently, I serve as a board member on the Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) Foundation Board.”
Sheriff Mazzola welcomes any questions, concerns, or comments you may have. Please send to [email protected] or stop by the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office to discuss in-person.
Special to the Herald Times
