Linn County Undersheriff Michelle Duncan will have a new job title come January.
County commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker agreed Tuesday, Nov. 30, that she should succeed Sheriff Jim Yon, who has announced his retirement as of the end of the year.
The 47-year-old will become the first female sheriff in Linn County law enforcement history, as she completes the final year of Yon’s four-year term of office.
The commissioners indicated strong support for Duncan, who has held numerous leadership posts within the Sheriff’s Office, starting as a resident deputy in Mill City for seven years.
She has also been a detective, worked narcotics, was patrol sergeant and worked with mountain patrols, was a lieutenant dealing with contract cities and was a Field Training Coordinator.
In 2019, she was promoted to Patrol Captain and earlier this year, she became undersheriff.
Duncan has previously said that she and Sheriff Yon share the same command philosophy, that teamwork is vital to any organization’s success. She also believed in the value of training and the work of all departments within the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Duncan grew up in Linn County and in California. She has a degree in criminal justice from San Jose Community College. She is married, with a son and a daughter. She enjoys hiking, fishing, yard and garden work and football.
Commissioner Tucker said he has always been impressed with Duncan’s professionalism and dedication, adding that she has succeeded at every level of command.
Sprenger agreed, recalling that she first met Duncan at a meeting in Crabtree where tempers flared. Duncan, she said, listened to the people and cared about their issues.
Yon told the commissioners, “You will not be disappointed.”
Duncan will stand for election in 2022.
LCSO Deputy John Raymond has also filed to run for sheriff as well. If only two candidates vie for the position, their names will appear on the November 2022 ballot. If more than two file, their names will appear on the May 2022 primary ballot.
The names of the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes will be on the November ballot. If one of the candidates receives 50% of the primary vote tally — plus one vote — that candidate would be the lone name on the November ballot.
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer