MadisonJournalTODAY

A packed house greeted all five Madison County sheriff’s candidates as they faced their voting public in a political forum June 19 hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau and held at the high school’s performing arts theater in Danielsville.

The field for sheriff includes current sheriff Kip Thomas, who is trying to hold his office not only against newcomers, but also against former long-time sheriff Clayton Lowe, who Thomas defeated by a narrow margin in 2008.

Both Thomas and Lowe are running as Republicans, along with newcomer Brenan Baird, an Athens Clarke County police officer. Former Georgia State Patrol officer William Kenneth White and former Comer police chief Brent Zellner, are both running as Democrats.

Each candidate was given the opportunity for brief opening and closing statements.

Thomas told the audience that he ran on three things during his 2008 campaign; drug enforcement, communication and a school resource officer.

Thomas said drugs are a continuing battle his department fights every day and that he has worked to improve communication. Deputy Mark Jerome was installed as a school resource officer at the high school in 2010, Thomas noted. He pointed to the implementation of firearm training classes for women, inmate detail and other programs he has started.

“I have a lot more I want to do,” he said.
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