The gloves are off in the race for Mower County sheriff.

In an often tense debate at the Eagles Club Friday, challenger Sgt. Jeff Ellis repeatedly questioned Sheriff Terese Amazi’s ability to communicate with the leaders and employees in the Mower County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff ensured she has maintained an open door policy within her department.

Ellis, who has been a sergeant in the department for the last seven years, said the last supervisors meeting he participated in to discuss issues was in 2004.

“How can you run a multi-million dollar organization without getting input and brainstorming ideas at the same time?” he asked.

Amazi stressed that she has communications with the chief deputy and other employees on a daily basis to maintain communication.

“I am approachable, so my style with my people would be: Bring ideas to me and we’ll discuss them,” Amazi said. “And that happens on a daily basis. I have an open door policy. People can come in and talk to me, and I approach them as well.”

Amazi also said she has worked to build relationships with people throughout the community.

“One of my strong points has been relationships with people,” Amazi said. “Not just people within the law enforcement community, but people within the community itself.”

Ellis, however, maintained that there are communication issues within the department.

“I have not spoken to the sheriff about department business this year,” he said. “She has not contacted me in any way. To say that there is input in concerned areas, I would have to disagree.”

Ellis said some of the employees working during the recent flooding weren’t properly trained to react to the situation according to policy. Communication, Ellis said, would be a priority of his should he be elected sheriff.

“If you make a decision in any one area — either jail, communications or patrol — it’s a high likelihood that it’s going to affect one if not both of those other positions. It’s important to get all input,” Ellis said.