ANSON — Mark Schinzel of Anson has announced his candidacy as an independent for Somerset County sheriff.

Schinzel advocates a line-item budget and reactivating the Citizens’ Advisory Committee.

He also stated he would request a reopening of the Katherine Hegarty case by U.S. Attorney Gneral Janet Reno.

Schinzel was born in Waterville and attended Madison schools before joining the Marine Corps. He is married and has three children. He was in the Marines from 1978 to 1982 and served as master of arms for ship security in the Philippines. During the Iran hostage situation, Schinzel said he provided airfield security at Camp Pendleton, California.

He is the owner of rental property in Bingham and co-owner of Mountain Man Wood Products in Anson.

Schinzel said his priority as sheriff will be crimes against people and property, drunk driving and increasing penalties against child sex offenders.

“Over 90 percent of the Somerst County Sheriff’s budget comes from property taxes. I intend to serve the citizens and taxpayers of this county in the manner they should expect,” said the candidate. Schinzel said he wanted to reinstate the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, disbanded by current Sheriff Spencer R. Havey, but that his committee would include one representative from each of the 34 Somerset County towns. He said voting would be not based on population, but rather each town would get a single vote. Issues the advisory committee could vote on, he said, were budgetary matters and policies.