Running for an elected office, particularly the office of sheriff is an arduous and demanding process that potential candidates should be prepared for. The author discusses six crucial questions that anyone contemplating running for sheriff should ask themselves before committing to the campaign trail. Candidates should be sure they are qualified for the position and should closely examine whether they will need to quit their day job in order to properly campaign. Candidates should also be sure that they and their families can take the pressure of a heated political campaign and that they have the political backing to have a realistic chance of success. Being able to raise enough funds for an expensive political campaign is a crucial consideration, especially since it seems many campaigns are made or broken depending on their financial resources. Finally, candidates must be sure that they are a good fit for public office and can serve as a public servant, rather than just as a politician.