By Cliff Hightower
Staff Writer
Four men competing to be Rhea County sheriff say they want to continue to fight drugs, help the county’s elderly population and work to stop repeat offenders.
In the Democratic race, incumbent Mike Neal faces a challenge in the primary from newcomer Jim Rice.
Seeking the Republican nomination are former Rhea County Deputy Dean Cranfield and Spring City police officer Robert Dillard.
The primary election is May 2, and the general election is Aug. 3.
Early voting is under way. Rhea County Elections Administrator Cathy Lauer said voting has been light and she hasn’t heard a lot of talk about the race.
“I’m not really hearing anything,” she said.
Mr. Neal said he wants to continue improving many of the programs he started when he was elected in 2002. He said that in his first 18 months on the job, he started the Senior Citizens Awareness Network, set up a satellite office in Spring City and formed a family violence and child abuse division at the sheriff’s department.
“I want to improve and enhance these programs in a positive way,” he said. “We’re trying to progress the department.”
Mr. Neal said the methamphetamine problem has dropped in the county, and he wants that to continue.
“I want to stay on the drug problem,” he said. “That’s probably one of our main goals.”
Mr. Rice, a convenience store owner in Spring City, said he does not have any law enforcement experience. He retired from TVA after 25 years, he said.
Mr. Rice said he has experience dealing with people and wants to look at how to solve the drug problem and stop repeat offenders.
“If you stop them once, you should be able to stop them a second time,” he said.
Mr. Rice said he wants to establish a relationship with the schools and the elderly.
“I’d like to get out and know everyone in the county,” he said. “I know it’s not possible, but I’d like to try.”
In the Republican primary, Mr. Cranfield, a former deputy with 28 years of experience, said he wants more patrols in communities, especially on some of the county’s side roads.
“You can stop a lot of this crime just by being seen,” he said.
Mr. Cranfield said he would like to see rehabilitated drug offenders speak at schools as a way to deter youth from taking drugs.
“I want to help the people,” he said. “That’s the reason I’m running.”
Mr. Dillard, a Spring City policeman who also served 12 years as a Rhea County deputy, said he is running because he feels the county “needs a change in law enforcement.”
Mr. Dillard said he wants to upgrade the Senior Citizens Awareness Network by implementing a new program called Project Lifesaver. It would monitor Alzheimer’s patients and other elderly patients with mental health problems at a cost of $5,300, he said.
“That’s not a bad price to pay to find one of your loved ones that’s wandered off in the woods,” he said.
Mr. Dillard said he wants to develop a second-chance program for juvenile offenders. He said he is running for the post because he wants to serve the public.
“I’m willing to be there and work,” he said. “I’m willing to be available to the public. I’m willing to listen.”
E-mail Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
Four men competing to be Rhea County sheriff say they want to continue to fight drugs, help the county’s elderly population and work to stop repeat offenders.
In the Democratic race, incumbent Mike Neal faces a challenge in the primary from newcomer Jim Rice.
Seeking the Republican nomination are former Rhea County Deputy Dean Cranfield and Spring City police officer Robert Dillard.
The primary election is May 2, and the general election is Aug. 3.
Early voting is under way. Rhea County Elections Administrator Cathy Lauer said voting has been light and she hasn’t heard a lot of talk about the race.
“I’m not really hearing anything,” she said.
Mr. Neal said he wants to continue improving many of the programs he started when he was elected in 2002. He said that in his first 18 months on the job, he started the Senior Citizens Awareness Network, set up a satellite office in Spring City and formed a family violence and child abuse division at the sheriff’s department.
“I want to improve and enhance these programs in a positive way,” he said. “We’re trying to progress the department.”
Mr. Neal said the methamphetamine problem has dropped in the county, and he wants that to continue.
“I want to stay on the drug problem,” he said. “That’s probably one of our main goals.”
Mr. Rice, a convenience store owner in Spring City, said he does not have any law enforcement experience. He retired from TVA after 25 years, he said.
Mr. Rice said he has experience dealing with people and wants to look at how to solve the drug problem and stop repeat offenders.
“If you stop them once, you should be able to stop them a second time,” he said.
Mr. Rice said he wants to establish a relationship with the schools and the elderly.
“I’d like to get out and know everyone in the county,” he said. “I know it’s not possible, but I’d like to try.”
In the Republican primary, Mr. Cranfield, a former deputy with 28 years of experience, said he wants more patrols in communities, especially on some of the county’s side roads.
“You can stop a lot of this crime just by being seen,” he said.
Mr. Cranfield said he would like to see rehabilitated drug offenders speak at schools as a way to deter youth from taking drugs.
“I want to help the people,” he said. “That’s the reason I’m running.”
Mr. Dillard, a Spring City policeman who also served 12 years as a Rhea County deputy, said he is running because he feels the county “needs a change in law enforcement.”
Mr. Dillard said he wants to upgrade the Senior Citizens Awareness Network by implementing a new program called Project Lifesaver. It would monitor Alzheimer’s patients and other elderly patients with mental health problems at a cost of $5,300, he said.
“That’s not a bad price to pay to find one of your loved ones that’s wandered off in the woods,” he said.
Mr. Dillard said he wants to develop a second-chance program for juvenile offenders. He said he is running for the post because he wants to serve the public.
“I’m willing to be there and work,” he said. “I’m willing to be available to the public. I’m willing to listen.”
E-mail Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com
