County Administrator Gary Schmidt estimated Tuesday that the review could cost $15,000 to $60,000, depending on its scope. Commissioners Diana Helm, Paul Savas and Ben West supported the measure. Board Chair Craig Roberts and Commissioner Martha Schrader opposed it.

Brandenburg called the proposed review a “political witch hunt” and a waste of taxpayer money and time. She announced July 22 that she would retire five days later, before her term ended. She had served with the sheriff’s office for 35 years and said she stepped down to give potential successors time to file for the November election.

Savas said constituents have repeatedly asked him about the timing and that the county should establish who knew about Brandenburg’s plans and when. West also argued the circumstances warranted scrutiny, saying the departure was a shock to most commissioners and that some people appeared positioned to gain an early advantage.

Brandenburg said she told her three undersheriffs about her plans roughly three weeks before the public announcement. She also gave Roberts advance notice, she said, asking him to keep it confidential because she wanted to inform the board herself. “I work for the people of the county,” Brandenburg said Wednesday. “I don’t work for the board.”

The timing has become an issue in the sheriff’s race. Brandenburg appointed Undersheriff Jesse Ashby to complete her term, but commissioners overturned that appointment on July 28 and selected retired agency supervisor James Rhodes. Rhodes, who left the agency in 2021, is now running against Undersheriff Brad O’Neil.

Savas and West questioned whether O’Neil’s campaign was underway before Brandenburg announced her retirement. O’Neil said Brandenburg had told him of her plans, but he did not launch his campaign or seek donations and endorsements until after the announcement. He said the campaign website’s domain had been registered earlier as preparation in case he chose to run. O’Neil said he saw no reason to spend public money investigating conduct he said followed election rules.

Roberts questioned the expense amid a tight county budget and said that, if commissioners proceed, the review should also examine the board’s decision to appoint Rhodes. Roberts said the appointment gave Rhodes an advantage as an incumbent and questioned why it was made so quickly.

Schrader said she did not believe an investigation would be worth the time and resources, describing the controversy as campaign-season speculation. Helm countered that public questions about the matter were reaching commissioners at candidate forums and said she wanted to be able to explain what happened.

The vote reflects divisions on the five-member board as voters prepare to choose the next sheriff in November. The county has not yet announced the review’s scope or final cost.