It didn’t come as any surprise to Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong when his former second in command filed as a candidate against him.

That’s because former Undersheriff Bill Puett asked for and received a demotion last month so he could seek Strong’s job at the ballot box.

“I requested a demotion to be in compliance with state and federal lawss concerning the election of public officials,” Puett said.

“It’s not about Mike. Everyone has his own ideas about how they want to run things, and I found the only way I could get that done was to seek the office. To say that I’m upset with the current administration would be incorrect.”

Puett has been with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office for 25 years, rising to the rank of Colonel and Undersheriff. In January he was demoted to captain, and currently works in the Support Services Division.

Strong has not yet named a new Undersheriff. Currently Captain Ted Markt has assumed the role of administrative captain and sits at Puett’s old desk.

Both Strong, a Democrat, and Puett, a Republican, filed as candidates on Tuesday, the first day candidates could file. Strong will face a challenge in the Democratic primary from Ron Fisher, a former St Joe Police detective currently working as marshal with the Buchanan County courts.

Also filing for the office was Republican Patrick J. Grove, a retired Kansas City police officer from St Joe. That sets up primary battles in both parties in August.