DANE COUNTY, Wis. -- There are two new faces vying to be the top cop in Dane County, after Sheriff Gary Hamblin decided not to seek re-election.

With all the mudslinging and ads involved in the races for attorney general and governor, you might not have heard much about one of the main races in Dane County.

However, Dane County Police Detective Dave Mahoney and Madison Police Officer Mike Hanson said theirs is a race people should be paying attention to.

"The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer in this county," said Mahoney. "It's imperative that the next leader of this county build on many of the successes that we've realized."

"This is an important race because we're at a crossroads with crime in our community," said Hanson.

Both candidates tout the same issues, but with different approaches. On jail overcrowding, Mahoney emphasizes drug and alcohol treatment along with job training for inmates.

Hanson goes one step further -- he wants to partner with University of Wisconsin experts on skill training for those in the jail.

On youth gang violence, Hanson said he would work with parents on prevention and intervention.

Mahoney on the other hand wants role models and mentoring in schools as well as faith-based communities.

One of the most popular issues they both said they hear from voters is increased crime in Dane County.

"A couple weeks ago I rolled out HEAT. Which is a high enforcement arrest team that's made up of existing resources to go after crime sprees, non compliant sex offenders, AWOL huber inmates and felony warrants. Those type of things help make this community safe," said Hanson.

"Whether it's Chief Wray in the city of Madison or our rural chiefs of police and our township constables, we need to ensure that our resources and personnel and equipment in the sheriffs department are made available to each of our partners," said Mahoney.

One difference between the candidates that they both admit is their levels of experience.

On the Democratic side, Mahoney is a 26-year veteran of the sheriff's department.

"I know the culture and values of our citizens in Dane County. Whether they are City of Madison residents or residents of Black Earth, Daleyville, Blue Mounds or other communities, I've spent 26 years working with them," said Mahoney.

Republican candidate Hanson has worked with Madison police for five years and is a three-term supervisor on the Dane County board.

"Being a county board supervisor, working in the private industry in management and working in law enforcement, gives me the broad picture of what it takes to lead. It has given me a perspective that the sheriff's office is only one component in public safety," said Hanson.

Although Hamblin has been Dane County's sheriff for the last nine years and worked with both of these men, he said is not making an endorsement in this race.