When Sheriff Gary Hamblin announced he would not seek re-election earlier this year. It meant Dane County would get its first competitive Sheriff's race in nearly two decades.

Dave Mahoney and Mike Hanson are the men seeking the job. Democract Dave Mahoney is a Senior Detective with the Dane County Sheriff's Department. Mahoney touts his 26 years with the department as the main reason he should be Sheriff.

"Dave Mahoney brings 26 years of proven leadership, proven experience working with law enforcement leaders throughout Dane County," said Mahoney.

Republican Mike Hanson is the public information officer for the Madison Police Department. He is also a member of the Dane County Board. He says his experience is more relevant.

"I managed resources, managed people, put together a budget, put together initiatives. As union president he hasn't done that. He's been in the Sheriff's office for 26 years essentially doing 1 job for 1 year 26 times," said Hanson.

Sheriff Gary Hamblin has not endorsed either candidate but he did give us a rundown of what abilities he thinks the next sheriff needs.

"I believe it's important for a sheriff to have a broad range of experiences. Being the sheriff is more of a management position than it is a law enforcement position," said Hamblin.

The biggest issue facing the next sheriff is overcrowding in the Dane County Jail. Nearly 200 inmates are being housed in other counties and the costs are in the millions. But neither man will say Dane County needs to build another jail.

"We ought to start planning for a new jail."

Mike Hanson says Dane County should start the planning process, but he wants to try an idea called day-reporting to reduce space demands.

"Day reporting you come to jail. We'll make sure you're not drunk or high. We'll make sure you get some treatment while you're there. And if you have a stable job and stable environment you can go back to it and not spend a night in jail," said Hanson.

Mahoney says building jails is not the answer. He hopes the diversion and treatment programs will reduce the number of inmates.

"We know our incarceration level will increase no less than 7.1% over the next 15 years. If we continue to do what we've always done-which is build institutions-we'll continue to fill them up,"said Mahoney.