About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2016)
PAGE 2A BARROW JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2016 Meet the candidates Sheriff, Republican Primary •Candidate name: Jud Smith •Office Seeking: Re-election as Barrow County Sheriff •Background/personal life (family, etc.): My wife, Stepha nie, and I have lived here all of our lives. Our children, Conyer and Addi son, have been raised here and attend Barrow County Schools as well. I have been in law enforce ment for over 18 years and have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Master's Degree in Public Administration. I have dedicated my life to serve this county and its citizens through law enforcement and volunteering. We attend First Baptist Church of Winder where I am a deacon. I have been entrusted to lead the Sheriff's Office the past seven years and it is my intention to continue doing that with character and integrity. •What issues do you feel are most important in this race?: The most important issue to me is that Barrow County should receive and expect a professional and transparent Sheriff's Office. Barrow County is growing at a rapid pace and as your Sheriff I stand ready alongside the men and women who protect us every day to face those challenges by being the best Sheriff’s Office it can be. It is important that we continue to be fiscally responsible to our citi zens by providing what is needed and not wanted. •Currently in our state and country, there seems to be a gen uine mistrust between many citi zens and law enforcement. What would you try to do to erase this mistrust?: I never thought we would see the day that law enforcement would be degraded as they have the past few years. JUD SMITH As Sheriff you need to make your agency a more professional organi zation by changing your standards and guidelines. Under my leadership your Sheriff's Office has done that by becoming the 19th Sheriff's Office in Georgia to become State Certi fied and then Recertified. This certification ensures we are hiring the best mentally prepared employees to serve our public. The citizens deserve and should expect a transparent Sheriff that will make the tough decisions to cut those men and women that choose to abuse their authority. I have and will continue to make those tough decisions so that the citizens can be confident that I will do the right thing no matter the outcome. I am grateful that the majority of our citizens do not take part in such disrespect and bashing but instead support public safety and their mission. I am proud and honored to be your Sheriff even in these times. If reelected I want to be State Certified for a third time. Being certified ensures our standards are higher than most agencies and gives the public the knowledge we are always trying to make the Sheriff’s Office better. I want to expand our already large neighborhood watch and business watch programs. These programs help us team up with our citizens to make our county safer every day. I want to expand our Crime Prevention Unit so that we may continue helping our youth not only in the schools but through our P.L.A.Y. (Participating in the Lives of Area Youth) Program year round. I want to continue our ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Unit so that we may continue to aggressively pursue those predators who wish to do our children harm. Lastly I want to continue the partnership with the local cities in an effort to support their mission to protect their cities and our county. •Do you feel that offices such as the one you are running for should be non-partisan (where candidates don’t declare as Republicans or Democrats?): This question has been debated for years. As the Sheriff of Barrow County I took an oath to uphold the constitution and protect ALL of our citizens and loved ones. As Sheriff I expect our employees to be fair and just to everyone no mat ter their political party affiliation. •Candidate name: Tim Walker •Office Seeking: Sheriff •Background/personal life (family, etc.): wife, Darlys Walk er; children, Brooke Lyda, 35 and Amber Walker 21. My grandpar ents, the late Lucas (Tobe) and Annie Laura Walker, were resi dents of Auburn and my family has made our home here since 2010.1 served in the United States Marine Corps from 1986 until my honorable discharge in 1992. I have been in law enforcement for 29 years. I started with the Cham- blee Police Department and moved to the Gwinnett County Police Department in 1989, where I have served as a Sgt. since 2004. •What issues do you feel are most important in this race?: 1. After closely reviewing the finan cial statements of the Sheriff Office the over time must be controlled In 2015 Fiscal year $758,447.11 of tax payers money was used for overtime. 2. Recruiting qualified personnel from uniform patrol to the detention center which is the greatest cost to the Citizens of Barrow County 3. Keeping Barrow County safe and secure from crim inal activity. •Currently in our state and country, there seems to be a gen uine mistrust between many citi zens and law enforcement. What would you try to do to erase this mistrust?: This is my permanent home and I have a vested inter est in having the finest sheriff’s department in the country. The key focus of any elected official needs to be the people. The sheriff and deputies of Bar- row County need to be completely involved with their community and the people they serve and protect. The professionalism of each depu ty will be one of my top priorities. They will be assessed for their strengths and required to partici pate in continued training, as the people of Barrow County deserve the best, most highly trained and competent deputies. One particularly important aspect of community involvement is building relationships with each segment of our society, including our children and senior citizens. As your sheriff, I will foster a positive TIM WALKER image of law enforcement which encourages cooperation on a daily basis and, most of all, when the need arises we want our children to trust and respect our deputies and that can only be accomplished by getting to know each other. Being involved in the schools allows our deputies to discover the areas where our children need the most guidance and encour agement. Our deputies will be in a position to divert potentially destructive outcomes to positive outcomes, which can change lives. Additionally, everyone in our community can learn from our senior citizens. Other communi ty involvement will be visiting local businesses, attending athlet ic events and talking to citizens at every encounter. Good things occur when people know and respect each other. Cooperation and investment in our communi ty are accomplished together and result in orderly growth that we can be proud of. •Do you feel that offices such as the one you are running for should be non-partisian?: Yes, law enforcement is for everyone with equal protection at all times. _ Terry % England for State House District 116 “Representing the values and interests of Barrow County has been a tremendous honor. I ask for your vote and your trust to continue working for Our Future \ i Working Hard for Barrow County Trusted to Serve with Integrity Proven Results Promises Kept Tuesday, May 24 th vote Terry England Early Voting Begins May 2 nd FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE www.TerryEnglandForCeorgia.com PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT TERRY ENGLAND I {
