01
Quality of life
Safe towns, farms and neighborhoods where families want to stay.
Merced County Sheriff · March 7, 2028
Straight answers. Proven record.
Vern Warnke has served Merced County with the Sheriff's Office since 1979. He's running again because there's still work to do for this county, and he's not done yet.
Campaign kickoff
Pull up a chair.
Free entry · Supper's on us · Drinks for purchase1979
The year he joined the Sheriff's Office
3
Times elected Sheriff: 2014, 2018 and 2022
400+
Sheriff's Office employees he leads
250
Explorers in the youth program he grew from 7
Meet Vern
One of our own, all the way through.
Serving Merced CountySince 1979
Vern joined the Merced County Sheriff's Office on September 15, 1979 and worked nearly every corner of it: patrol, SWAT, detectives, the coroner's office and youth programs. He became the county's first agricultural crime specialist, its first full time deputy coroner and its first full time D.A.R.E. officer.
He retired in 2008 after 30 years. The Merced County Deputy Sheriff's Association asked him to come back and run, and voters elected him Sheriff in 2014, then again in 2018 and 2022. In 2023 the Merced County Times named him its Man of the Year.
Vern and his wife Kathy, who he calls his rock, have been married more than four decades.
“I didn't talk in circles. I think a lot of people are getting tired of the political jargon and they want someone to give them straight answers.”
Vern Warnke, election night 2014 (ABC30)
I'm in love with this county and the people that live here. And I mean that genuinely.”
Vern WarnkeThe record
Four decades of firsts.
- 1979
Joins the Sheriff's Office
Starts in patrol and the Civil Bureau.
- 1985
First ag crime specialist
FBI certified SWAT sniper, then the county's only deputy certified in livestock theft.
- 1992
First full time deputy coroner
Builds the role from the ground up.
- 1993
Explorers and D.A.R.E.
Grows Explorers from 7 to 250 members and becomes the first full time D.A.R.E. officer.
- 2002
Leads the STAR team
Later supervises K9, motorcycles and School Resource Officers, and founds the Honor Guard.
- 2014
Elected Sheriff
Reelected in 2018 and 2022.
- 2023
Man of the Year
Honored by the Merced County Times.
- 2026
STAR team returns
Brings back the tactical team to work violent and property crime with local agencies.
- 2028
Running again
Primary election on Tuesday, March 7, 2028.
Where I stand
Two things I won't let go of.
02
Taking care of our deputies
Paying them right, so good people stay and keep working here.
Get involved
Every town counts.
- 01
Stand with Vern
Business owners, farmers, community leaders and neighbors: if you'd like to endorse this campaign, let us know and we'll add your name.
- 02
Host a night for Vern
Backyard barbecue, coffee with the neighbors, supper at the ranch. Pick a date, invite your neighbors and Vern comes to you.
- 03
Put up a yard sign
We'll get one to you anywhere in Merced County.
- 04
Volunteer
Help at events, walk neighborhoods or make calls.
Donate
Help get the word out.
Every contribution goes straight to signs, mailers and getting Vern's message to every corner of Merced County.
Give online
Donate securely.
Online giving opens soon. In the meantime, the easiest way to give is a check in the mail.
Online giving opens soonSend it the old way
Mail a check.
Please make checks payable to Warnke for Sheriff and mail them to:
Warnke for Sheriff
172 E. Bellevue Rd. #4
Atwater, CA 95301
172 E. Bellevue Rd. #4
Atwater, CA 95301
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