The Person County Democrats

Why did you decide to run for Sheriff, and what would be your top priority in that role?
I decided to run for Sheriff because I believe Person County deserves a Sheriff’s Office the people can trust, respect, and be proud of again. After serving 30 years in law enforcement and 8 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police officer, I’ve seen what strong leadership can do for a department, and I’ve also seen what happens when leadership is missing. I’ve worked in the jail, patrol, and courthouse security, so I understand every part of the Sheriff’s Office and the challenges our deputies and community face every day.

 

I’m running because I believe it’s time to bring professionalism, accountability, and strong leadership back to the Sheriff’s Office. I want deputies to have the training, support, and leadership they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, while also rebuilding trust and communication with the community.

 

My top priority as Sheriff would be making the Sheriff’s Office more professional, better trained, more visible, and more approachable. That starts with supporting our deputies, improving morale, increasing proactive patrols, and being tough on crime while still treating people fairly and with respect. I also want to strengthen efforts against drugs and violent crime while building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the citizens we serve.

 

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to make the Person County Sheriff’s Office a department the people have confidence in and can be proud to call their Sheriff’s Office.

How would you balance enforcing drug laws with addressing addiction and repeat offenses?
A Sheriff has to be tough on drug dealers while also recognizing that addiction is destroying families and communities. My approach would be to attack both sides of the problem at the same time.

 

First, I would focus heavily on intelligence gathering and investigations into known drug activity. I believe in aggressively targeting dealers, traffickers, and repeat violent offenders who are bringing drugs into our communities and profiting from addiction. That means working closely with surrounding agencies and building strong task force partnerships to combat drug trafficking across county lines. We have to disrupt the supply and hold dealers accountable.

 

At the same time, we cannot arrest our way out of addiction. Many people struggling with substance abuse need treatment, counseling, and a real opportunity to change their lives. I would work with local organizations like Freedom House and other outreach agencies to connect inmates with counseling, recovery programs, and treatment plans while they are incarcerated. The goal is that when they are released, they already have a path toward recovery, support, and accountability.

 

Reducing repeat offenses means giving people a chance to break the cycle instead of sending them right back into the same environment with no help. By combining strong enforcement against traffickers with treatment and recovery efforts for those battling addiction, we can make our communities safer and help families rebuild their lives.

What improvements would you make to staffing and training within the Sheriff’s Office?

One of the biggest challenges many Sheriff’s Offices face today is staffing and retention. Good deputies are leaving the profession because of burnout, lack of support, and not feeling valued. If elected, one of my priorities would be building a stronger department by investing in our people through better staffing, leadership, and training.

 

First, I believe we need to improve morale and create a professional work environment where deputies know they are supported. That means providing fair leadership, fair promotions, and open communication throughout the Sheriff’s Office. It also means making sure deputies have the equipment, training, and backup they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. When deputies feel respected, supported, and appreciated, morale and retention will improve.

 

Second, I would focus on recruiting quality people who truly want to serve the community. I want deputies who are professional, approachable, and willing to work with the public not against them. We need to actively recruit veterans, experienced officers, and young people who want a career built on service and integrity. Training would also be a major priority for me. Law enforcement today requires more than just basic certification. Deputies need ongoing training in areas like de-escalation, crisis intervention, narcotics enforcement, leadership development, and community interaction. I also believe supervisors should receive leadership training so they can lead by example and hold deputies to a high standard.

 

I would work to create a department that is better trained, more confident, and more visible in the community. A Sheriff’s Office should not just respond to problems it should build trust and prevent problems before they happen.

 

With my 30 years in law enforcement and 8 years as a Military Police officer in the Army, I understand the importance of discipline, accountability, and teamwork. My goal would be to build a Sheriff’s Office the people of Person County can once again be proud of.

Why did you decide to run for County Commissioner, and what will be your top priorities while in office?​

​After serving on City Council, I decided to run for a County Commissioner seat because I have seen the concerns and dissatisfaction many citizens of Person County have expressed regarding recent decisions made by the board. It is important not only to listen to the citizens who elect us into office, but also to be transparent about why the board may choose a direction that differs from public sentiment. Therefore, one of my top priorities will be ensuring transparency in how and why I vote on board decisions. 

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What would success in this role look like four years from now?

Since I would be serving an unexpired term, my primary focus over the next two years would be on sound budget and tax decisions that best serve the citizens of Person County.

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What’s one challenge facing this county that can’t be solved overnight, but needs leadership now?

​The greatest challenge is ensuring that decisions are not viewed strictly along party lines, but instead through the lens of what is truly best for the county. It is time to move beyond division and conflict and focus on working together to make the best possible decisions for Person County.

Why did you decide to run for County Commissioner, and what will be your top priorities while in office?​

I decided to run for County Commissioner because I had become frustrated with the direction our county is headed. We are becoming a “Bedroom County”. One of my top priorities would be to regain the trust of our citizens. Although we have different opinions about issues, there should never be an instance when the citizens do not trust their commissioners.

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What would success in this role look like four years from now?

Success in four years in this position to me would look like:

1.  A better relationship between the citizens of Person County and the Commissioners. 

2. A more stable Tax Reduction Plan.

3. A better recruitment plan for more industrial businesses. ( such as the old Collins & Aikman, Loxcreen, and Alsco)

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What’s one challenge facing this county that can’t be solved overnight, but needs leadership now?

​Accountability and growth.