On Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, Sheriff Ken Schneider, Clerk of Court Tom Barker, and newly-elected Coroner Valerie Caylor all took their oaths of office before Judge Robert Russell in the Branch II Lincoln County Courtroom in an official swearing-in ceremony.
Schneider, a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office is starting his second term after defeating a primary challenger and two challengers in the general election.
Barker is starting his first elected term as the Lincoln County Clerk of Court after being appointed to that position in September of 2021 to fill the term of Marie Peterson who resigned to take a job with the State of Wisconsin. Barker is a former detective with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, having served with that agency for 17 years.
Caylor, formerly a Deputy Coroner, succeeds incumbent Paul Proulx who chose not to run and is officially retired from the County after having served nearly 50 years between the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office. Caylor, who is a critical care flight paramedic, has served with the Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office and Lincoln County Coroner’s Office prior to being elected to the position in November.
Barker and Caylor both ran unopposed on the ballot.
All three are members of the Republican Party.