Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Walter "Johnny Z" Zelivetz

As the 2026 general election approaches, The Washington County Times is publishing written interviews with candidates in contested races affecting Washington County.

The Times reached out to all candidates for whom we were able to obtain contact information and invited them to participate. If you are a candidate in a contested race and have not received an invitation, please contact us so we can make sure you have an opportunity to participate.

Candidates were provided with questions tailored to their campaign, personal history, and the office they are seeking. We encouraged candidates to answer the questions in their own words and to refrain from using ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools when preparing their responses.

All candidate responses have been published as submitted, without editing or alteration. The Washington County Times does not endorse political candidates, and any opinions or statements expressed within the following interview are the candidate's own.

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You originally sought the Republican nomination for sheriff but are now running as an independent. What led you to continue your campaign as an independent candidate, and what do you hope to accomplish by continuing your campaign this way?

I have a right to be on that ballot as well as anybody else in Washington County who has been a resident more than a year with a high school diploma. If they wouldn't have tried to intimidate me and make me quit in the beginning, I wouldn't be where I'm at today. So now I'm campaigning for Washington County Sheriff because I believe I can do a better job.

Washington County continues to deal with drug-related crime. What do you believe is the most effective balance between enforcement, treatment and prevention?

Nobody in the county wants to have drugs in their county. More education is needed about fentanyl poisoning. That's the worst one. It's killing people left and right. Yes, we need to step up our forces against drugs and drug-related crimes. Nobody wants a dopehead county.

The Sheriff's Office oversees the county jail. What changes, if any, would you make to jail operations and inmate reentry?

I would observe. I would bring in my consultant to go through files and I would interview every officer. I want to see day-to-day and jail operations for myself. My goal was if there was a problem with the jail that we could improve on, then I would fix it.

How would you approach recruiting, retaining and training deputies? What experience do you have that you feel has prepared you for these organizational responsibilities?

We have good officers in there who are dedicated and want to do their job right, but bad ones make it so bad the good officers can't do it. That has to be fixed fast. We need better wages to keep the good ones.

What role should technologies such as Flock cameras and license-plate readers play in Washington County, and what limits should be placed on their use?

A Flock camera right off the bat violates the Fourth Amendment. If they were used in the right positions in our county - schools, parks, nurseries, nursing homes, hospitals - places like that where you are trying to protect people, that is one thing. But not covering John Q Public who ran up to the store to get a pack of cigarettes.

What do you believe makes an effective sheriff, and what would your leadership style look like if elected?

We have crime everywhere - it's not just Washington County. People who break the law need to be dealt with. But I'm not a politician, I'm a people person. If you break the law, you're going to go to jail. But on the other side of the coin, let's get this guy some help into an institution where we can put him back in society and be another citizen of Washington County.

What do you believe distinguishes your approach to the Sheriff's Office from the other candidates in this race?

I am not tied to a party and I am not tied to a politician. I am a people person. A call is a call whether it's from Salem, Pekin, Campbellsburg, Canton, Fredericksburg, Hardinsburg or Livonia.

If elected, what is the first major change you would make as sheriff?

I will listen to taxpayers. I will protect good officers so they can do their job. I will work to get help for people in jail so they can come out and be part of the community again. I will be a public servant for the whole county, not just the Salem circle. I will swear in to uphold the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.