A Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Tuesday announced his intent to run for sheriff in 2014.

Kurt Freitag, 46, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office since 1995, said he decided to run for office because he thinks the services being provided by the department are “lacking in some obvious areas.”

“I’ve consistently seen the Sheriff’s Office, especially in the last three years, in a state of decline,” Freitag said. “I see that the services that we provide the people of Freeborn County and the people visiting our county are not up to par.”

He declined to give specifics.

Though the election is still more than a year away, he said he decided to announce his intentions for the election early because he wants to get the public thinking.

Current Sheriff Bob Kindler has not announced he is seeking re-election, but it is likely he will do so. The filing period runs from May 20 through June 3.

If Freitag is elected, he said he has some ambitious ideas for the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement contract for the Freeborn County jail and for improving the quality of services provided.

He also wants to bring a better work environment for the employees of the Sheriff’s Office and improve retention within the department.

Freitag said he is also a Freeborn County taxpayer, and as a taxpayer he has expectations of what the Sheriff’s Office should be providing.

“It truly is lacking,” he said.

Before his time with the Sheriff’s Office, Freitag said he worked as a police officer for the city of Glenville. He also served 20 years in the Army — including 6 1/2 years of active duty — and retired in 2005. Of that service, he spent 17 out of 20 years as a noncommissioned officer in charge of soldiers, a task he said taught him leadership skills.

“I’m excited to take on this challenge,” he said. “I want to give them a sheriff’s office they can be proud of.”

Freitag has two daughters, one who is a Chinese linguist and the other who is going to be a senior in high school.