By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

As numerous as the wind turbines on Interstate 70 in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties, the campaign signs dotting the yards of Rooks County residents are hard to miss.

Four Republicans are challenging incumbent Republican Roger Mongeau for the office of county sheriff in the Aug. 5 primary.

There are no Democratic challengers for the November general election.

Mongeau, Zurich, is continuing his campaign, despite suffering a stroke in April and being on medical leave since then. He has served as sheriff since 2000.

According to Mongeau's family, he "still has five months to heal," and "he believes he can do it."

Nevertheless, one of Mongeau's deputies and his undersheriff also have filed for the office.

With 35 years of law enforcement experience, Undersheriff Daryl Thornburg, Stockton, said he wants to maintain the continuity of the sheriff's department and dispatch.

"I had a lot of people ask me to (run)," Thornburg said. "I don't know why, but I had a lot of requests."

Thornburg was raised in Alton and served as the Osborne County Sheriff for eight years before moving to Stockton.

Deputy Sheriff Randy Axelson has been with the department for five years, serves on the North Central Kansas Drug Task Force and, if elected sheriff, wants to concentrate on the narcotics problem in Rooks County.

"I've got some ideas that I think would make a positive influence on the sheriff's office," Axelson said.

Born and raised in Stockton, he also served on the city of Stockton police force for 10 years, three as sergeant.

Ryan Cellmer, a Plainville resident and part-time police officer for the city, also has thrown his hat in the ring to be sheriff.

"I enjoy serving the community and helping people, and I thought maybe as sheriff I could do a better job of that," Cellmer said. "I'd like to attack more aggressively drug use. ... Drug abuse is one of the big issues that I'm against."

Cellmer is one of the remaining employees of Schult Homes in Plainville and serves as a volunteer firefighter, EMT and rescue squad member. He graduated from Plainville High School but spent 11 years after that in Arizona before returning to his hometown in 1998 to start a family.

Though Jeannine Spiess, Stockton, has no formal law enforcement experience, she thinks her on-the-street experience will help her if she is elected.

Spiess moved to Stockton, her husband's hometown, in September and is working to finish her bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

"I know the small community is close-knit, and I think they would appreciate the take-charge kind of woman that I am," Spiess said.

She has completed police officer training from the Western Missouri Regional Police Academy.

She moved to Stockton from her hometown of Independence, Mo., to escape the violence of the city.

Rooks County Clerk Clara Strutt expects a larger than average turnout for the primary, anticipating 55 percent to 60 percent of registered voters, compared to a usual 35 percent for primary elections.

A candidate forum for the contested sheriff's race as well as candidates for the second and third district commission seats will be at 7 p.m. today at Plainville Township Hall.