Want to have a say in who the next Chippewa County Sheriff will be?
You’ll have to vote the primary. Travis Hakes, incumbent sheriff for Chippewa County, is facing Mark Hollister, President of the Chippewa County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and Chippewa County Courthouse Security Officer. Both men are listed as Republicans on the primary ballot, with no challenger listed from the Democrats. As such, whoever wins the August primary effectively wins the November election. Each of the candidates was given an opportunity to fill out a questionnaire, with responses below.
Starting out our candidate review is Sheriff Travis Hakes. Currently the incumbent, Hakes was first elected to be Chippewa County Sheriff in 2022, defeating Chris Kowalczyk for the post after the retirement of former sheriff
Jim Kowalczyk. Hakes is 39 years old and a graduate of Bloomer High School as well as CVTC. Hakes previously came under scrutiny in a county board investigation with a 31-page summary report released back in 2024, ultimately retaining the sheriff’s post despite a board vote of no confidence.
His basic philosophy for the Sheriff’s Office is that it is a powerful position in the county, and that power should be kept with the people of that county.

With questionnaire responses below, Hakes seeks your support in the Aug. 11 Republican primary.
Name: Travis C Hakes
Age: 39
Seat/Office sought: Chippewa County Sheriff
Background/Education: Graduate of Bloomer High School and CVTC. Since starting my career in law enforcement I have taken extensive training in various areas. I am an
instructor in multiple categories, crisis negotiations, leadership, evidence technician, interviews, investigations, etc.
I am one of very few Sheriffs in the Nation to be a Graduate of all the National Sheriff's Institute programs, and actively work with them to mold future training for our Nation's Sheriffs.
What is your basic philosophy for the role of sheriff?
I believe the Office of Sheriff is a powerful position within the County, and the role of a Sheriff is to keep that power with the people of that county. The Sheriff is unlike any other law enforcement position, there is no "off duty" time. The Sheriff has to be available to the people of the County, no matter
the issue. The Sheriff's role is to be the futuristic planner of the Office, making daily decisions that have ripple effects across every division focused on long-term
goals. The Chippewa County Sheriff's Office has several divisions and it is the Sheriff's role to ensure all those "silos" still "feed the same farm" by being collaborative with the Office. The Sheriff also has to collaborate with vendors, contractors, and other agencies to ensure the Sheriff's Office does not get tunnel vision as it relates to public safety.
The Sheriff has to be a leader that is involved and engaged in the community. The Sheriff is everyone's Sheriff who gives the power to the people, not just an elite few.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you
address it?
There are several important issues to me, they are all focused around a few key things however. Moving the Office of Sheriff forward. When I was elected there were many dysfunctional things occurring. As a management team we worked on
correcting some of those, naturally not everyone agrees behind closed doors on everything; and some take long-term financial planning to achieve. In the next four years, I plan to expand on use of technology to increase our productivity. There are tools available to reduce some of the manual labor
hours we put in. We also have been able to implement things like our mobile app, which hosts our emergency alerting capabilities. We were the first place in the Nation to harness this capability. We were able to provide the community with clear communication, transparency, and a resource all while saving money. I also intend on continuing to ensure that our Office is committed to Public Safety by protecting our victims / survivors, special needs awareness / resources, and being engaged with our Youth through schools and community events.
Why you for this seat/office rather than your opponent(s)?
I made promises in 2022, I work hard everyday to keep those promises. The residents and tourists of Chippewa County do not have to search real far to see or hear from someone they know, that I am committed to those promises. I have made real progress in several areas, and want to continue
what I started.
Campaign Social Media: Travis C Hakes - Facebook

Challenging Hakes for the post of Chippewa County Sheriff in the Aug. 11 primary is Mark Hollister. Hollister is 56 years old and a graduate of both Osseo-Fairchild High School and Chippewa Valley Technical College. Since 2015 he has served as president of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Association, among other posts. His basic philosophy for the role of sheriff is that the office exists to serve and protect the public with integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
“My philosophy is that effective leadership begins by supporting our employees, because when deputies have the training, resources, and trusted leadership they need, they provide better service to our community,” Hollister said.
With questionnaire responses below, Hollister seeks your support in the Aug. 11 Republican primary.
Name: Mark Hollister
Age: 56
Seat/Office sought: Chippewa County Sheriff
Background/Education: I grew up in Osseo and graduated from Osseo-Fairchild High School. After earning an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Chippewa Valley Technical College and completing the Police Recruit Academy, I served with several local law enforcement agencies before joining the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office in 2010. Since 2015, I have served as President of the Chippewa County Deputy Sheriffs Association and, since 2017, on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association. I also serve as the Chippewa County Courthouse Security Officer and serve as the Peer Support Lead for the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office.
What is your basic philosophy for the role of sheriff?
The Sheriff's Office exists to serve and protect the public with integrity, professionalism, and accountability. My philosophy is that effective leadership begins by supporting our employees, because when deputies have the training, resources, and trusted leadership they need, they provide better service to our community. The sheriff must also be accountable to the
public by leading with honesty, transparency, making responsible decisions with taxpayer dollars, and collaborating with our public safety and community partners.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
The most important issue is strong, respected leadership. Leadership influences employee morale, retention, and ultimately the quality of service the public receives. When employees trust and respect their leadership, they
are better able to serve the community professionally and effectively. Our community should never bear the consequences of poor leadership. As sheriff, I will lead by example, communicate openly, hold myself and others
accountable, and ensure our deputies have the training, resources, and support the need to best serve our community.
Why you for this seat/office rather than your opponent(s)?
I have dedicated 15+ years serving the citizens of Chippewa County with integrity, professionalism, credibility, and ethical service. My experience, along with my various leadership roles within both my department and professional organizations, have prepared me to lead. I'm not running to make promises—I'm running to provide trusted, experienced leadership that
supports our employees, earns public confidence, and keeps our communities safe.
Campaign Social Media: Hollisterforsheriff.com
Facebook: Mark Hollister for Chippewa County Sheriff