Campaign 2014: Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Race
From Campaign 2014 — we’re about two weeks away from elections. One of the races that will be on your ballot is for Montgomery County’s next sheriff.
Montgomery County Sheriff D.T. Marshall is retiring at the end of this year, leaving an open seat for someone to fill his position — and both candidates running for the job have nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience here in Montgomery.
Signs are all around Montgomery asking people to vote for Derrick Cunningham or Bert Bodiford.
Bodiford is currently a retail manager, but has nearly 27 years of law enforcement experience — 24 of them with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He’s served in several departments, including the investigations division and drug task force.
Bodiford faces Cunningham, who’s served as the sherriff’s office chief deputy the last 15 years, with about 26 years in law enforcement.
Both of them say they’re focusing on crime reduction in the county — and it starts with educating residents.
“So what we’ve got to do is continue to educate our citizens of that dangers that are out there,” Said Cunningham.
“Our youth — [we’ve got] to help them get jobs and be productive citizens,” Said Bodiford.
Cunningham says if he were sheriff, he’d hire more deputies.
“More personnel to get our visibility a little bit better out in the county,” Said Cunningham.
Bodiford says he wants to beef up the narcotics division.
“When you see all of these murders, break-ins, these robberies… usually somewhere, it’s tied back to narcotics,” Said Bodiford.
While Cunningham says his experience as chief deputy makes him the best candidate for the job, Bodiford says taking a step back from law enforcement the last two years has made him realize what he believes the county needs…
“We have to take care of the sheriff’s deputies first and then we’ll take care of the community, but let’s fix what’s broken inside now,” Said Bodiford.
“I’ve got an ear to the community and I believe bridging that gap with law enforcement and the community,” Said Cunningham.
Cunningham says if he were sheriff, he also wants to improve technology for deputies to aid in fighting crime. Bodiford says the current administration doesn’t have enough neighborhood involvement. He says he wants to fix that.
You can vote for either of these candidates running for the Montgomery County Sheriff on November 4.
