Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz throws hat into ring for county executive

OSHKOSH – Winnebago County Executive Jon Doemel has a challenger.

After 34 years in law enforcement, current long-serving Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz is throwing his hat in the ring for another leadership position after announcing his candidacy for Winnebago County executive.

Speaking of the need for an “open, transparent, responsive government,” Matz told the Northwestern his decision to run for office came from a desire to reevaluate county programs.

“During my time in the Sheriff’s Office, we have created programs to help people in the long term and I think we can do so much more with these [county] programs, and we can do it quicker than what we are doing right now,” Matz said during the telephone interview.

“We need to see if these programs are getting the desired effects. We need to see if they can be improved, and which new programs can and should be picked up.”

A former 30-year military veteran, Matz, 60, announced his candidacy early Monday in a news release highlighting his last 14 years spent as Winnebago County sheriff.

The news comes five months ahead of April’s spring election, during which current County Executive Doemel is bidding for a second term in office after he unseated 16-year incumbent Mark Harris in 2021.

Describing him as “a good sheriff,” Doemel said he welcomes Matz’s challenge because “voters should always have choices.”

“His priorities have always been true and good as sheriff but as a county executive you have to balance the needs of everyone and weigh that against everything else,” Doemel told the Northwestern.

“I know we’ve had some disagreements, and that’s OK because I always take his views into consideration and try to balance those with the other viewpoints in the community.”

County budget: Winnebago County's proposed 2025 budget calls for 11.4% spending increase & lower tax rate

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Matz retired from the military in 2017 as Command Sergeant Major of the 120th Field Artillery Battalion, having served with his son in Iraq.

Matz was also Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office deputy before spending the last 14 of his 34 years in the department as sheriff.

“I plan on making this election about my record, my accomplishments over 14 years as sheriff, my commitment to my country and my commitment to the 173,000 residents in Winnebago County,” Matz said.

“I was in the military for 30 years and we would change commanders every three to five years [because] you need a different set of eyes looking at the same problem and you can find quicker solution.

Humane Society: Packed Oshkosh Area Humane Society asks public to help with adoptions

Matz’s term as sheriff is up for reelection in November 2026, but he said he would have to give up the position if elected as county executive. Gov. Tony Evers would appoint Matz’s replacement in that situation.

Matz said he intends to remain as sheriff if he loses the election.

County Clerk Julie Barthels, who was recently reelected after running unopposed during last week’s general election, revealed Doemel and Matz are the only candidates so far contesting the Winnebago County executive position.

Next year’s spring election, slated for April 1, will also see the District 2 Court of Appeals judge, State Superintendent of Public Instruction and other municipal positions on the ballot.

Contact Justin Marville at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Who's running for Winnebago County executive? John Matz joins race.