Gov. Scott Walker announced Acting Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt will continue to serve as sheriff through former Sheriff David Clarke’s term ending Jan. 7, 2019.
“With the November election just months away, Governor Walker believes it is best left to the voters of Milwaukee County to decide who their next sheriff should be,” said Amy Hasenberg, Walker’s press secretary in a statement.
The governor said he will not appoint an interim sheriff. Schmidt was named acting sheriff after Clarke's departure last September.
Walker said in his announcement Wednesday that it would be best to let voters pick a replacement in November. That means interim Sheriff Richard Schmidt will keep his role until Jan. 7, 2019. Schmidt has not said whether he will run for the office.
The sheriff's office vacancy was created when Clarke resigned on Aug. 31 to go work for a political action committee that supports President Donald Trump.
Walker at one point considered 18 candidates to fill Clarke's role.
