Teller’s Best Troublemaker Seeks County’s Top Cop Position
Travis Phelps
Once Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell announced that he was entering the heated Colorado gubernatorial race, it didn’t take long for a candidate to officially seek the spot as Teller’s head cop.
Last week, during a press conference held in downtown Woodland Park, city resident Russ McKnight announced that he will be running for Teller County Sheriff in 2026.
So far, McKnight is the first candidate to express interest in replacing Sheriff Mikesell, since Mikesell will be term-limited after 2026. However, since the race is still more than a year away, a slew of candidates are expected to enter the mix in the coming months.
McKnight has been a Woodland Park resident for more than 20 years, and he is a retired Air Force Veteran. During his press conference, McKnight told the crowd of over a thousand people that he would use his military experience to be a quality law enforcement boss.
Over the past few years, McKnight has made a name for himself after receiving hundreds of votes each year as the area’s best troublemaker. But according to McKnight, his rowdy trouble making days are now over.
“I used to have kind of a bad reputation, but I recently quit drinking,” McKnight said. “Once the sheriff announced his governor run, I thought since everyone knows me from the bars, I would be a viable option to replace him.”
McKnight said that he appreciates the current sheriff’s service for the last decade, and he hopes to continue his legacy of being tough on crime. However, the sheriff candidate said that he is interested in making a few changes on how law enforcement operates within the county.
First off, McKnight said in order to reduce crime locally he plans on giving every Teller County resident a concealed carry permit. Further, McKnight plans to make it a legal requirement for every Teller resident to carry a gun with them everywhere they go.
The way driving under the influence (DUI) charges are handled within the county would also change if McKnight gets elected. “I miss the days when if you were drunk and driving, the police would just give you a ride home,” McKnight said. “So, when I am elected sheriff, I will allow my deputies to give drunk people free rides home. But, they will have to figure out how to get back to their cars themselves.”
McKnight said he also has a plan to address the recent increase in traffic issues and fatal car accidents within the county. He said that he plans to implement top-notch technology similar to how toll roads in the cities operate.
“I think that anyone that is not a Teller County resident and comes here should have to pay a travel tax,” McKnight told his crowd of followers. “We will use advanced technology to track whether people are residents or not. Then if they are up here for leaf peeping or other activities, they will automatically be billed $100 for traveling on our roads. The tax will then be used for better road maintenance.”
During the press conference, McKnight announced that he has established his campaign headquarters at the Jess’ Place pool hall in downtown Woodland Park. McKnight can be found at the local watering hole seven days a week between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“I welcome all Teller County residents whether you are Republican or Democrat to come down and discuss your concerns with me,” McKnight said. “Every day I am there, the restaurant will be serving free fresh venison from deer that were recently killed behind the bar.”
McKnight said he is currently accepting monetary donations at his campaign headquarters. For more information about upcoming campaign events visit OlRusty4Sheriff.com.
