The Elkhart County Republican Party wants you to know your candidates. Throughout the run toward the May 2026 Primary Election, we will be posting Q&As with your candidates to help introduce (and re-introduce) them to you – the Republican voter! All Republican candidates in the race are contacted. We continue this series with candidates for Elkhart County Sheriff.
Candidate Bio: Mike Culp – Born and raised just south of New Paris, Indiana, Captain Mike Culp is a lifelong resident of Elkhart County and has dedicated himself to serving our community through the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office A graduate of Fairfield Jr. Sr. High School, Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Ball State University. Hired by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Officer in March of 2004 by Sheriff Mike Books, he worked his way through the patrol division ranks and was promoted to Patrol Corporal in 2007 and Patrol Sergeant in late 2008. After earning his stripes, this required Mike to perform regular patrol duties while supervising shifts of patrol officers, county-wide. During this time he also served as an operator on the Emergency Services Unit (Now a component of Elkhart County Regional SWAT) as a precision marksman, perimeter element leader, and later as the overall tactical team commander. In 2011, Mike was promoted to Patrol Captain by Sheriff Brad Rogers. As Patrol Captain, Mike Culp oversaw the entire Patrol Division, the first point of police contact for the majority of Elkhart County’s 200,000+ residents. In 2019 he transferred to Administrative Services Captain at the request of current Sheriff Jeff Siegel to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Administrative Services Division and to serve as the agency’s Public Information Officer (PIO). Mike has been married to his wife Angela for 24 years. They have three children. Phillip, who is an active duty Corporal in the United States Army, Makayla, US Army ROTC at Ball State University School of Nursing, and Madelyn, a Senior in High School, accepted into the US Army ROTC and will be attending Ball State University post-graduation. They attend Nappanee Missionary Church.
Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? I have a servants heart and want to improve the quality of life for the residents of our county. Strong servant leaders are needed to ensure our citizens and their constitutional rights are protected. This means finding ways to improve how we work with our community and adapting to societies ever changing needs. I know that I have the experience, knowledge and the energy to take on this very important elected office.
What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? Currently, we have several issues surrounding SEA 1. This is still developing, however, funding vital services like law enforcement cannot be ignored. The issue of immigration and federal enforcement of those laws in our communities has been a focal point on the national and local level. Although we do not enforce federal law, our involvement in honoring ICE detainers and assisting ICE locally will be an ongoing issue for years to come.
What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? The sheriff is responsible for many tasks outside of law enforcement and the county jail. The office is responsible for executing many orders of the court and ensuring members of our community are served those orders in both incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. We handle a lot of administrative responsibilities laid out in state law that are unseen by most in our community.
Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? My Christian faith and conservative values led me to become a Republican many years ago. These values have helped to guide me in my personal and professional life. Serving other is a higher calling and is something I value greatly.
How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign?
Candidate Bio: Brian Holloman –
My name is Brian Holloman. I have more than three decades of hands-on experience and a comprehensive understanding of the Sheriff’s Office that no other candidate can match. I began my 32nd year with the agency in March and am the only candidate who has worked in three of our four divisions: Jail, Patrol, and Investigations. I have led two of those divisions as Captain.
My career includes service as an expert witness in crash investigations and impaired-driving enforcement. I worked undercover drug investigations, and hold certifications as a crime analyst, homicide investigator, and crash reconstructionist. I helped establish the agency’s crash investigation team and previously coordinated the Elkhart County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, a multi-agency unit. I have investigated and supervised investigations involving homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, and crimes against children. Additionally, I taught criminal justice at the college level for 15 years.
My priorities will include responsible fiscal management, improved employee retention, targeted approaches to drug misuse and mental health to reduce recidivism, and proven crime reduction strategies informed by my analytical work.
I am married to my wife, Sally, who works for Beacon Middlebury. We have three adult children, and we are members of Faith Lutheran Church in Goshen.
Why did you decide to seek election/re-election to this office? I chose to run for sheriff for several reasons. Although I did not initially envision pursuing this role, colleagues throughout the agency encouraged me to consider it. Now in my 32nd year, my perspective has evolved because of the diverse responsibilities I have been trusted with by multiple sheriffs who recognized my potential. My personal and professional commitment to improving our community also aligns naturally with the demands of the position. As my experience expanded—through numerous certifications and hands-on work across the agency—I came to recognize that my approachable, people-focused leadership style and practical understanding of every division fit well with the responsibilities of sheriff. My willingness to address issues honestly and directly further reinforced that realization. I recognize meaningful changes are needed, both internally and externally, and I am committed to working toward improvements that strengthen the agency and entire community. Ultimately, the sheriff’s race boils down to this: change or status quo. The last presidential election highlighted the desire for change by many. That desire has been my focus since I began my mission in 2022.
What do you feel are the main issues facing this office heading into your next potential term? The Sheriff’s Office—and our community as a whole—faces several important challenges. Internally, we do not have a hiring problem; we have a retention problem. As a practitioner of deliberate leadership, I am prepared to address this issue directly. Improving retention is not only the right thing to do, but also a significant cost-saving measure. When we retain our most valuable assets across all divisions, we preserve experience, stability, and the ability to better meet the needs of the community we serve.
Externally, our community faces real challenges related to substance misuse and gang activity. These issues have existed for years, yet they have often gone unacknowledged by elected officials. Meaningful change begins with an honest acknowledgment of the problem. My willingness to identify issues, seek solutions, build partnerships, and implement programs—supported by my hands on experience—places me in a unique position to make a meaningful impact. I am highly qualified because of my experience, and I have the desire to tackle our community’s biggest challenges because Elkhart County is worth it.
What are some elements of this job that the public may not know about? As a constitutional position, the sheriff occupies a distinctive and important position within county government. Unlike other heads of policing agencies, who are appointed, the sheriff is elected by the people. This election process ensures that residents have a direct say in selecting the individual who will be responsible for the unique duties of the office. The four primary functions carried out by the sheriff are policing, managing the county jail, maintaining security within courtrooms, and serving court documents.
While the Office of Sheriff primarily focuses its policing duties on the unincorporated areas of the county, it also provides support to cities and towns. This involvement helps maintain order and safety throughout the entire county, regardless of municipal boundaries. The sheriff also serves as a highly visible representative of the executive branch of county governance. Over the course of my years spent in what could be described as a “full-time job interview for sheriff,” I have encountered many county residents, especially those living in cities or towns, who were unaware that they have a voice in electing their sheriff. This highlights the importance of public awareness about the role and election of the sheriff within local government.
Why have you decided to seek election as a Republican candidate and why are those values important to you? I chose to run as a Republican because the primary ideologies of the party speak to who I am. I appreciate the idea of smaller government being responsible to the people. This is why local governance is so important. Having leadership that is known, approachable, and accountable is extremely important for a community. I factually identify with these traits. I also believe in the importance of greater independence and freedom. These beliefs are embodied in the U.S. and State of Indiana Constitutions. I believe strongly both are worth protecting and as your next sheriff I am committed and honored to doing so.
How can voters get in touch with you and stay updated on your campaign? Information on me and my campaign can be found on my website at www.holloman4sheriff.com. I am also on Facebook under Brian Holloman for Sheriff. Anyone with questions or concerns is strongly encouraged to contact me as I believe strongly in the importance of making an informed choice come election day. I may be contacted through the Contact Us link on my webpage, through email at [email protected] and via Facebook.
