The election is months away, but the race for Butler County Sheriff is heating up. Some are accusing candidate Carl Enterkin of not living in Butler County.
He says it’s not true.
“I chose to live over here before the electoral process began for sheriff,” Enterkin tells FactFinder 12.
Enterkin began renting an apartment in Andover in March.
FactFinder 12 checked out the apartment and talked with several neighbors who say they’ve never seen Enterkin. Most thought the apartment was vacant.
“I can't be responsible for what they see and don't see. I'm not inviting anyone in there, it's my residence. Cops by nature are private. I keep odd hours and I’m running a campaign. I'm gone a lot. I babysit some houses for my friends in Wichita for a couple weeks,” says Enterkin.
Enterikin still has a home in Sedgwick County where he ran for sheriff in 2008. He says he’s working to sell the home.
Enterkin is not breaking any rules, but political experts say voters typically don't like it.
“They call them carpetbaggers. I think the electorate as a whole does not like that. I think Kansas in particular…we're funny about that here,” says Ken Ciboski, a political science professor at Wichita State University.
Enterkin says the apartment won't be his permanent home and he plans to build in Butler County win or lose.
“Absolutely,” says Enterkin.
“I knew my opponent from the beginning would be clamoring about this. It seems to me to be petty. I've established a residence. I don't know how many hours I’m required to stay in my residence,” he added.
His opponent, Sheriff Kelly Herzet, tells us he’s aware of it.
“I do know what my opponent is trying to do. I'm not one to run a smear campaign…I want to run a positive campaign for the residents of Butler County and I want them to decide,” says Herzet.
He also made it clear how he feels.
“He’s an outsider trying to move into the county and try to inform people he's an Andover law man when he really isn't,” Herzet added.
The voters will have the final say in the August primaries.
