Published: July 19, 2008 12:00 am            

Sheriff's race crowded

Eight candidates now vying for office

While it won't be decided until this November, the race for Cleveland County sheriff takes its first serious turn at the end of this month.

On July 29, voters from both political parties will head to the polls to narrow the field -- which now stands at eight --?of potential candidates.

While nine men originally filed for office, one candidate, Norman Republican David Williams confirmed Saturday that he had withdrawn from the race. "I just decided that seeking elective office was not the best thing for me and my family at this time," Williams said. "It was a tough decision, because we had a lot of support. But it was the best thing for us."

Those remaining eight candidates include two Democrats and six Republicans, all seeking to replace current sheriff Don Holyfield.

Holyfield, appointed earlier this year by the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners, is serving the remainder of the term left vacant by former sheriff DeWayne Beggs, who retired.

Holyfield didn't file after pledging that he would not seek election to the post.

The candidates -- all men -- include two Democrats from Lexington, Kelly Owings, 46, and Rick Adkins, 30; three Republicans from Moore, Roy D. Magerkurth, 71, Mark Hamm, 41, and Timothy Carson, 47; and two Republicans from Norman, Joe Lester, 64, and Doug Blaine, 61, along with Oklahoma City Republican Lynn Statton, 48.

And each man is touting his experience and administrative skill for the office.

"I feel my background is exceptionally suited to the position," Hamm said in a media statement. "My combined experience within the Cleveland County sheriff's department as well as the private sector has prepared me for this important position."

The county's new sheriff, Hamm said, must have "a strong blend of law enforcement, business management and public relations skills."

Hamm said his tenure at the sheriff's department has given him the experience necessary for the job.

"I believe I possess those basic capabilities that would only be enhanced and sharpened by my own on-the-job experiences at the sheriff's office," he said. "I understand the crucial role of the sheriff's department in meeting the law enforcement needs of a rapidly growing county."

Echoing Hamm, Blaine said experience should be a key component in the race.

"I feel that with my experience, I have the qualifications for the office," he said. "My goal is to improve the operations, the working conditions, and the service to the public."

Blaine said the new sheriff must be able to "communicate with the citizens."

"I have a fairly extensive background with public information duties," he said. "And, as far as the administrative aspect, (county) government is a non-profit business. You have to manage your resources and tax dollars wisely."

Additionally, Blaine said he would work to increase the salaries of the more than 120 employees of the sheriff's department.

"One particular issue for me is the salaries of the employees. Our deputies are really behind the curve on compensation. In most other agencies in the area, they pay their employees more than we do. It's difficult to recruit quality employees with these salaries."

And while he acknowledged he "got into the race late," Blaine -- who filed for office just minutes before the deadline -- said his background, training and love of law enforcement as a career have pushed him into the campaign.

"This is something that I really enjoy doing," he said. "I'm not in it for the money."

Further, Blaine said that, if elected, he would fight any special interest influence in the office.

"As with any governmental entity, there's always a possibility of influence from special interest groups," he said. "I don't think that's appropriate and I would guard against it."

For Magerkurth, law enforcement is a family thing.

"My dad's father was a sheriff in Osage County," he said. "And my mother's father was a sheriff in Kansas."

And the career, he said, is "in my blood."

"I've been in law enforcement for 42 years in Cleveland County," he said. "That's why I'm running for office."

Should he become sheriff, Magerkurth said he would install automated external defibrillators in all sheriff's vehicles.

"I'm a fanatic about saving lives," he said. "We live in a time where we can expect a terrorist attack at any time and you have to be prepared. I've worked as a trainer for the Red Cross and traveled throughout Cleveland County training people."

Additionally, Magerkurth said his decades worth of experience make him uniquely qualified for the job. "I'm very familiar with all phases of the sheriff's department -- administration, civil, courts, jails -- you name it, I've done it."

Lester, former University of Oklahoma chief of police, believes the county's next sheriff will have to be "an administrator who understands how to budget" and who has a "track record of coordination" between local and federal agencies.

"It's absolutely necessary to understand law enforcement and what they do from the rookie to the top management," he said. "You have to know administration and you have to know law enforcement."

Lester, who spent 22 years with the Tulsa Police department, came to OU in 1991.

"While I was at OU, we cut the crime rate by over 40 percent," he said. "We utilized community policing and we worked and trained with all local law enforcement."

The pubic, Lester said, "want to know they are being protected."

"People are worried about crime, and with the economy the way it is, the county will have to have a proactive sheriff's department and do crime prevention," he said. "It's better to shut the barn door before the horse gets out."

Additionally, Lester said he would work to reduce costs for the department.

"I feel that we can operate the new jail cheaper than the current jail," he said. "And I would like to implement programs where county inmates work cutting weeds and clearing trees at intersections to reduce accidents."

Lester said he also would like to use donated land to harvest vegetables so prisoners at the county detention facility, "would eat what they grow."

"It would save the taxpayers money," he said, "there are many applications that could use inmate labor. There's lots of things they could do. I want to be a proactive sheriff, not a reactive sheriff."

For Adkins, the sheriff's race is about "new ideas and new energy."

Adkins, the youngest candidate in the race, said the sheriff's office must embrace the 21st century.

"I'd like to see new technology and new training programs," he said. "I'd like to add a domestic violence coordinator to better assist victims of domestic and violent crimes."

If he's elected sheriff, Adkins said he would work to improve the county's drug court program. "I think the drug court program need some serious work," he said.

Adkins said he also would develop alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs and use grant money to fund the initiatives."I want to have a grant writer for research to apply for and maintain grants for specialized training for domestic violence, drug and alcohol programs. We should take advantage of federal funding."

Adkins said he also would make sure the sheriff's office was "heavily involved" in the design and development of the county's new jail.

"I want to make sure that all measures are taken to provide security to the citizens so they don't fear an escape," he said. "I don't want people who live around the area to fear for their safety."

Statton said he decided more than two years ago to run for the office.

"I started saving money at the time," he said. "I figured it would be a two-man race; then, come to find out, I'm running against seven more."

Should he be elected, Statton said he would increase the presence of the sheriff's office in the county and use more "community type policing."

"I want a deputy to drive the whole county," he said. "I want deputies patrolling the entire county. I want them out of their cars talking to people."

By increasing contact with residents, he said, sheriff's department officials will have better information to fight crime. "We need to talk to the convenience store owner and the farmer. You never know what they have to say. They might be able to provide tips which help reduce problems in that area."

Statton said he also would work to improve public service in the sheriff's office at the Cleveland County Courthouse. "The sheriff's office is not a very friendly place. I want to bring it back to where people aren't afraid to talk to people."

He said the office also should be involved in the development and construction of the county's new jail.

"I think the new jail is the biggest issue out there," he said. "They've been talking about building a jail since 2005; and it has been overcrowded since. I want to make sure it's going to be big enough, safe and secure for all the residents around it."

For Owings, the campaign for sheriff is all about his love of law enforcement.

"It's an exciting and rewarding career," Owings said. "It's a calling. It's rewarding to help people and to put the bad guy in jail."

Owings, a native of the county, said because he grew up in the Little Axe area, he "knows what's going on" in the county. "The kids have nothing to do," he said. "So they get into drinking and driving and then they get hurt."

If he is elected, Owings said he would increase the number of patrols in the county's rural areas. "I want seven cars with 10 deputies," he said. "And I would work to slow the kids down and make Cleveland County safer."

There are too many meth labs, too much marijuana and too many drugs in the county, he said. "The drugs in this county are unreal. They are heavy in the rural areas because there are fewer patrols. I want to take care of that. I want to get those vehicles off the highway. I want to stop the drug traffic."

To do that, Owings said he would "surround the office with good people."

"I think the sheriff's office should have the best people it can get," he said.

Sheriff's candidate Tim Carson could not be reached for comment.

With a budget of more than $5 million, the county sheriff's department employees about 120 people. The sheriff is paid $6,037 per month or about $72,444 per year.

The Democrat and Republican winners of the July 29 primary election will face each other in the general election, set for Nov. 4. Should no candidate receive a majority of the vote July 29, a run-off election is scheduled for Aug. 26.

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com

        

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