Former Jefferson County Sheriff Craig Doolittle is the Jefferson County Commission’s presumptive newest official, after Jefferson Local Development Corporation President Keith Foley withdrew from the race in August.
Doolittle, 60, who was reelected County Sheriff five consecutive times prior to his retirement in 2022, is the only remaining candidate for the District 3 seat currently occupied by Bob Mullen. Mullen has opted to retire after 10 years in office.
“I haven’t won yet,” said Doolittle in an interview with The Monitor. “I think, as a candidate, you have to expect you’re going to win. But, until just now, I didn’t know that! Keith [Foley] is a great man, and he’s doing a lot of things that will benefit Jefferson County in the long-term. I envision having a talk with him sometime in the near future.”
Doolittle says that he intends to begin his six-year term with an intensive information gathering effort, in order to better acquaint himself with County offices and functions.
“My first priority is to make sure I meet with the other commissioners, the department heads, and other elected officials to make sure I really have a grasp on all the moving parts involved (in county government),” said Doolittle. Though prepared to adjust his priorities based on post-election conversations, Doolittle anticipates prioritizing the county’s financial and business health, securing material improvements for emergency medical service providers, and assisting with project and grant development.
“There was a time in Jefferson County when [Golden Sunlight and Montana Tunnels Mining Inc.] were operating, and we were pretty well off,” said Doolittle. “But when they closed things were tough, for a moment. These things happen, and communities do their best to be prepared. The need to find new sources or revenue, I think, is pretty common for counties like ours.”
Doolittle, during his 21 year tenure as sheriff, helped facilitate the transition of the Boulder Police Department to county services, oversaw the improvement of critical emergency communications infrastructure, including the county’s 9-1-1 dispatching systems, and managed more than 50 employees.
“When I stepped in as sheriff, I’d spent so much time as a deputy and undersheriff that I had a really good sense of what was expected of me,” said Doolittle. “I’m not sure I have all the pieces yet, but I’m ready to get moving.”
He added: “I love Jefferson County. I’ve lived here almost my entire life. I went to school here, my kids went to school here, and my grandkids are in the schools now! I thought my experience would be helpful, and it was a really easy choice to come back and try to help.”
