Fourth candidate running for Lyon County sheriff

Fernley resident Bob Kahn has registered to run for Lyon County Sheriff.

Born and raised in Reno, Kahn, 54, graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1974.

For 10 years, Kahn taught sixth grade at Fernley Intermediate School until he took a position as the Lyon County Sheriff's Department Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer, where he serves today.

As a certified police officer, Kahn said, he has developed an extensive background in rural law enforcement. Outside the classroom he was a reserve deputy sheriff for the Washoe County Sheriff's Department.

In 1991, he said, he formulated the D.A.R.E. program in Lyon County and implemented several children's safety programs in the schools to include Stranger Danger, Bicycle Safety, Alone at Home and Good Touch/Bad Touch.

He said his concern for children is what motivated him to use his writing talents to create the children's safety series "Bobby and Mandee's Too Safe for Strangers" and "Bobby and Mandee's Too Smart for Bullies."

Kahn also earned a master's degree in school administration, which he said will give him the experience needed to run the sheriff's department.

Kahn said he will be a "proactive sheriff and very visible to the public." If elected, he said, he will invite community comment and encourage the citizens of Lyon County to get involved with the sheriff's department. Kahn said if he's elected sheriff he hopes to improve community policing, continue school programs - such as DARE, GREAT, and Stranger Danger - and improve law enforcement response teams such as Search and Rescue.

He and his wife Candy have lived in Fernley for 14 years.

In 2002, Kahn ran for sheriff and lost to the incumbent, Sid Smith, who is retiring this year. In addition to Kahn, three others have announced they are seeking the seat of sheriff: Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Allen Veil; one-time Carson City sheriff's sergeant and former Washington sheriff Ron John; and former Los Angeles police sergeant Charlie Duke.