Our interview with County County sheriff candidates continues with question number 3.
3. What is something you think is not working at the Sheriff’s Office and what is your plan for improvement?
PONEY ADAMS: What is not working is the same stuff I’ve been going through for the past 23 years: Investigating old homicide cases. My plan is to do that – investigate old homicide cases.
JIMMY BAGGETT: If elected sheriff, I intend to make the sheriff’s department more accessible to the citizens. The sheriff’s department is going to be more accountable to the citizens. Every citizen of Calhoun County is going to be treated with dignity and respect. I intend to have an open door policy. I intend to have a sheriff’s web based site. This website will allow the citizens’ suggestions and concerns to be sent directly to my office. Those suggestions and concerns will be responded to within 48 hours. If a citizen or group of citizens want to speak to me personally, I will be available at all times.
KEN FUTCH: Currently, we have one position budgeted for drug investigations, part of which is paid through grants. Given it’s our number one issue as a community, I find it necessary to increase that number from one to possibly three. Given the current budget situations, rather than ask for new positions, I would simply realign some of my current staff to increase the overall effectiveness of our drug investigations.
EARL HUNT: I feel like we need to listen to concerns of the citizens more than what we’ve done. We need to listen to the citizens more.
GLENN KIMBREL: I think one of the biggest things I will be faced with if elected sheriff of Calhoun County is about providing calls for service on a timely basis. I intend to look through the system and see where most calls are originating from. That’s where I’m going to put my manpower. If we have more than one on duty, obviously I’m going to have them in separate areas of the county. That will improve response time when we do have a call for service.
TOMASI MATAUTIA: Leadership and training are main things I’ve observed that need to be improved so the staff and deputies can perform their duties and for better communication for serving the public.
ADAM TERRY: An area I would like to strengthen is our school resource program. I believe we need to step up the program to do more to prevent these children from getting on dope.
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