LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — With 10 days left before Sheriff Brian Martin retires, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Lake County’s longtime Probation Department chief to fill the sheriff’s post for the next two years.

The board selected Rob Howe, who served with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years beginning in October 1992, reaching the rank of captain before leaving in September 2011. He took the role of chief probation officer in March 2012.

Howe told Lake County News that he’s glad to be given the opportunity to lead the department which he once oversaw as chief of staff.

Over the course of two hours on Tuesday morning, the board held public interviews of Howe and the second candidate, Lt. Lucas Bingham.

Howe, whose given name is Eutice but more commonly goes by the first name of Rob, will serve until Jan. 2, 2025, at which point the next sheriff — who will be elected — will take office.

Capt. Chris Chwialkowski will be acting sheriff in the gap after Martin retires on Dec. 30 and until Howe takes the oath of office on Jan. 2. A ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Lake County’s elected officials will take place on Jan. 10, the board’s next meeting.

On Tuesday afternoon, Howe told Lake County News he was being inundated by phone calls and emails in the wake of the board’s decision.

“My reaction is excitement. I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to the sheriff’s office,” Howe said. “I think I’m going to do a good job for this county in the interim position.”

Howe said he had never been through a public interview process before. While he had some nerves, he said he was pleased with how it went.

“I’m happy with how I did but I thought Luke Bingham did well too,” said Howe.

He acknowledged it will be different, noting that he’s “not a Facebook guy” like Martin, but that he will be embracing social media as part of the department’s community outreach efforts.

Two qualified candidates

Board members said it was a hard decision due to the qualifications and merits of the two men.

Both Howe and Bingham grew up in Lake County, raised their families here and have worked their entire careers in county law enforcement agencies. Bingham also is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Each gave thoughtful, careful answers to the board’s questions. They offered visions for the future of the agency that relied heavily on community policing, transparency, respect and integrity, with goals of addressing the sheriff’s office’s staffing challenges and continuing Martin’s successful outreach efforts, with a view to future improvements.

During the discussion that followed after the board’s lunch break, supervisors said the decision was a difficult one because of the quality of both candidates.

The board ultimately selected Howe because of a unique advantage he offered — namely, that he does not intend to run for sheriff in two years, which allows other potential sheriff candidates to come forward.

A campaign can be divisive for the sheriff’s office when it involves a sitting sheriff, Howe said. “I’ve been through it twice in my years, and there’s just no winning in it.”

Howe said he doesn’t say “never” in such matters, and would only run if he didn’t think there were suitable candidates available.

That’s not expected to be the case. Howe said he’s hearing about people who plan to run who he would support.

The interviews also revealed that Bingham — who ensured the board he would support Howe if appointed — intends to run for sheriff in 2024.

The only public comment offered during the meeting was from Chwialkowski, who recognized the tough decision the board had to make. He said both Howe and Chwialkowski are capable individuals.

Chwialkowski said sheriff’s office staff is excited that Bingham has decided to run for sheriff, and that he has support in the agency.

Plans for the agency

Howe brings to the job a background that includes time working on patrol, in investigations and at the Lake County Jail, and serving as chief of staff at the rank of captain under former Sheriff Rod Mitchell.

He said he wants to facilitate a smooth transition, with a primary goal of improving staffing at the sheriff’s office. Howe said the agency has been very innovative, including visiting academies and recruiting online. “They’re doing a lot of good things.”

Asked by Supervisor Bruno Sabatier about diversifying staffing, Howe said that in the Probation Department he already has achieved what they are looking for: More than 50% of his staff are female, and more than 50% identify as a racial minority.

He said he didn’t do anything special — his agency just treats people right. “I don’t know how innovative you have to be, you just have to be open and fair from the start.”

Howe credited Martin for setting the bar for community engagement, particularly through social media and online outreach, and he hopes to continue what the sheriff’s office is doing successfully.

During his interview, Bingham, a Middletown High School graduate, spoke about how he and his parents had been Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and Posse volunteers when he grew up. He left to serve in the Air Force, then returned, attended Napa Valley College and was hired by the sheriff’s office, where he has worked for 24 years.

“My entire career has always been about learning something new,” he said. Around the office, there is a joke about him: “I’ll take any training that’s available to me, including underwater basket weaving.”

Bingham has completed more than 2,400 hours of Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, certified training, and has achieved every POST certificate. Two weeks ago, he completed the executive development course, generally reserved for police chiefs and seconds-in-command.

He also has been selected for the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s highly competitive National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 2024, and expects to complete his bachelor’s degree in 15 months with California Coastal University.

Going forward, Bingham said he wants to get a plan for a leadership program in the sheriff’s office back on track. He had talked to Martin about it and started the ground work, but the pandemic put it on the back burner.

“I would like to get that moving again. I think that’s very important,” he said, along with having an employee assistance program that can help employees deal with the stress of the job while also offering an important recruitment tool.

Sabatier said the quality and experience of both candidates spoke highly to the sheriff’s office and the county as a whole. “I’m very proud that that is the representation that Lake County has.”

The board ultimately chose Howe over concerns about the appointed sheriff having to run a campaign in less than two years.

Supervisor Moke Simon was the lone board member who wanted to choose Bingham.

Supervisor Michael Green moved to appoint Howe as sheriff-coroner, with Supervisor Jessica Pyska seconding. The vote was 4-1, with Simon voting no.

On the advice of County Counsel Anita Grant, Green made a second motion to appoint Howe effective Jan. 2. Pyska also seconded and the vote was 5-0.

On Tuesday evening, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen updated the Lakeport City Council on Howe’s selection.

“I’m looking forward to working with him over the next two years,” Rasmussen said.

Lakeport Mayor Stacey Mattina called Howe “a perfect choice” as Lake County’s next sheriff.

Editor’s note: This article has been clarified regarding Howe’s date of employment with the Probation Department. He worked for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office until September 2011 and took the chief probation officer job in March 2012.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.