Mike Helton, left, and Larry Black, both candidates for Catoosa County Sheriff, exchange notes during a public debate held Tuesday at The Colonnade Center in Ringgold, Ga.Five candidates vying for the top spot in Catoosa County law enforcement debated Tuesday the most effective way to curb property crime, become more active in the community and fight the drug scourge.
Ideas for prevention ranged from using Facebook and social media to encouraging officers to get out of their cars and let the public know they are listening to local concerns.
The candidates, former Lookout Mountain Drug Task Force commander Larry Black, Catoosa County City Manager Mike Helton, Fort Oglethorpe police officer Jeff Holcomb, retired federal agent Ben Scott and Chief Deputy Gary Sisk, are looking to replace retiring Sheriff Phil Summers.
At the debate, sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press, candidates were asked about their plans for crime prevention, their policies and their thoughts on controversial social issues like selling alcohol on Sunday and concealed gun carry permits.
All the candidates were against Sunday alcohol sales and for concealed gun carry permits. Black, who was criticized after previous debates when he said openly carrying a gun made him nervous, stated he isn’t for gun control but more responsibility.