Hammond will seek re-election as sheriff

Sheriff Jim Hammond believes he's accomplished several goals in his partial term as Hamilton County's top elected law enforcement official.

But he's not finished.

"I had some goals and objectives that I wanted to see put into place and accomplished and I feel very pleased that we've done that," he said. "That was probably only half of the things on my plate."

That's why Sheriff Hammond is running for re-election, which he officially announced to the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Wednesday.

Sheriff Hammond took office in August 2008, the beginning of a two-year term. He campaigned based on restoring faith in the sheriff's office after former Sheriff Billy Long pleaded guilty to extortion, money laundering and gun and drug charges.

Since then, Sheriff Hammond said, he has developed relationships within the business community that helped provide equipment and training for his employees. He started a mounted patrol and a crisis intervention team.

He soon plans to announce the department's mission statement: "Commitment to excellence for all people with fair and unbiased performance."

Items on his plate for the next four years -- if re-elected -- include working toward accrediting the sheriff's office and jail, increasing the neighborhood watch program, keeping better track of sexual predators and increasing the number of school resource officers if the budget allows.

The sheriff said he has received overwhelming support and prayers from the community.

"I want them to know that my waking moments are going to be toward how can we make this a safer county, how can we make this county be seen as one people would want to live in and work in," the sheriff said.

As of Wednesday, only Lloyd Clendenen had picked up papers to run for sheriff and had not returned them, according to the Hamilton County Elections Commission.

Mr. Clendenen could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

KEY ELECTION DATES

Feb. 18, 2010: Qualifying deadline

May 4, 2010: County primary election

Aug. 5, 2010: County general election