Just three weeks left for Republicans in El Paso County to make up their minds about who should be their candidate for Sheriff.

Tuesday evening, both candidates running for the nomination met at the Penrose Library in downtown Colorado Springs for a debate.

Incumbent Sheriff Terry Maketa touted his experience as a necessary qualification for sheriff as the county faces more tight budgets in the years to come. “I've been dealing with tough budgets, I've had to make those tough decisions. I've had to let people go. I know what it's like,” said Maketa.

His opponent, Monument Police Chief Jake Shirk, pointed out his own experience in law enforcement to counter Maketa’s incumbent strategy. He has 35 years experience in law enforcement. He says his candidacy offers voters a choice. “We have the same goals in mind, and that's our public safety. How we get there though is philosophically different in at least a couple of respects. One of those is patrol versus the jail,” said Shirk.

Chief Shirk also talked about community outreach, and how much he has been able to accomplish in Monument with only 13 officers.

Election ballots went out in the mail this week. You have until august 10th to get them back in.