WASHBURN COUNTY — Matt Prochnow has officially entered the race for Washburn County Sheriff, becoming the third Republican candidate to announce a bid for the office. Prochnow announced his candidacy in a press release Friday, May 29, 2026, joining fellow Republican candidates Warren Tuttle and Jason “Bart” Bartholomew in the August 11 primary election. The race follows Sheriff Dennis Stuart’s announcement that he will not seek a third term and plans to resign from office on June 12.
PRESS RELEASE
My name is Matt Prochnow and I am running for Washburn County Sheriff. Serving as sheriff has always been a goal ever since I worked at the Shell Lake Police Department back in 1992.
My family moved to Shell Lake when I was 13 and I graduated from Shell Lake High School in 1992. In the fall of 1992, I was hired by the Shell Lake Police Department part time and worked into a full-time position. By 1998 I moved to the Washburn County Sheriff Dept as a deputy/jailer. I served 2 years on the Washburn County Special Response Team. Sheriff Dryden utilized me on the road as a deputy, in the jail and also as a transport officer. I am thankful to both Chief Clint Stariha and Sheriff Dryden for helping me get started in my law enforcement career.
In 1999 I was hired by the State Patrol holding the positions of Inspector and Trooper. I worked as a State Trooper until 2005. Due to family reasons, I left law enforcement, but it never left me. I always planned that I would retire as a State Trooper, but life took me in a different direction. Unfortunately, in 2011 I was divorced and by 2015 I moved to Janesville. I took a job in Milton working in security and worked my way up to environmental services supervisor. This allowed me to also be a full-time dad to my three children. I had always planned to move back to Washburn County after my children graduated high school.
Two years ago I came across a job opportunity that allowed me to move back to Washburn County where my parents, brother and sister still live. With Sheriff Stuart not seeking a third term I filed my declaration of candidacy as a Republican and turned in my nomination papers in May 2026.
I am fully prepared and committed to taking on this position as Washburn County Sheriff.
As your Sheriff:
- I will be active in the community and attend community events throughout the county.
- I will visit all the schools in the county to build relationships with the children.
- I want to focus training on verbal and physical skills of the deputies and jailers.
- I will support the staff and give them the training and tools to do their jobs.
- I will focus on helping the county board find a solution for our jail dilemma.
- I will aggressively attack the drug problems through criminal interdiction.
- I will build strong relationships with law enforcement agencies in our county and surrounding counties
- I will develop a program to partner with the food pantry and Lakeland family resource center to help families that need their services.
As previously stated, I have been out of law enforcement for a time, but it has never been out of me. I am a Christian who believes God has a plan for us all and he is unraveling His plan for me with this opportunity to run for Sheriff. I would greatly appreciate your vote on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. If you have any questions please call me at 715-416-9458.
Last Update: May 29, 2026 10:17 am CDT
