Shelby County Sheriff candidates discuss issues

The Shelby County Sheriff candidates addressed the public and the issues May 21 .

Republican candidates John Samaniego, Kip Cole, Larry McDow and Rick Needham attended a forum at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Luncheon where they discussed their plans for the position.

“I’ve prepared myself my entire professional career to be your sheriff,” Samaniego said when asked why he wanted to be new sheriff. “I have been your chief deputy for the past 11 years. I would like to continue to serve you.”

Each candidate explained his personal ties to Shelby County and why he loves the area.

“I raised my family here,” Cole said. “Both of my sons are police officers, and they live in Shelby County. They are raising their families here. I am committed to providing the best public safety that I can for all of Shelby County.”

McDow said he asked himself the same question often before deciding, and his simple answer was he wants to serve the people of Shelby County.

Needham said he was lead by ministry to run for office.

“The Lord started showing me a bigger picture and how I could serve the whole county,” he said. “The sheriff’s job is, number one, is to protect the liberties and God-given unalienable rights of the people of the county. Everything else is second.”

The candidates were then asked a series of questions including the importance of repairing the strained relationship with the Shelby County Commissioners, how they would bring more businesses to Shelby County, and which programs and services they would like to see the sheriff’s office launch or strengthen.

Although each candidate agreed businesses and the commissioners were important tasks, they differed in the programs they would like to see bettered. 

“The drugs are a major issue to me; school safety is as well,” Needham said. “I would implement an investigative task force to go after suppliers.”

Needham expressed the importance of protecting students with qualified people in schools who are both trained and armed, and ministering to criminals in correctional facilities to turn their lives around instead of continuing to treat them as criminals.  

McDow spoke about improving the drug problem in the area, but he also touched on another problem facing the county in the future.

“I would like to get into the cyber world where an upcoming problem for the nation, and Shelby County, will be identity theft, phone scams and identity scams,” he said.

Samaniego said he thought the current programs in place are great. The department has been involved in many drug investigations, and they have a deputy protecting about every school in Shelby County, he said.

“One thing I would like to implement is support for the senior citizens, the fastest growing populace we have in Shelby County,” Samaniego said. “That would be too assign deputies as liaisons to all of their groups to get them in touch with the sheriff’s office on a monthly basis.”

Cole agreed with all of his opponents saying everything can be enhanced and improved with a new vision, but he hears a different problem coming from the community — npartnerships. 

“They want to have a better community relationship with the sheriff’s department,” Cole said. “We will be able to have better contacts and provide better services because of the two-way communication between the public and the sheriff’s office.”

Elections will be held June 3 for the Republican primary.