NEWS ALERT: Q & A With Sheriff Candidates - Question 2

This is the second question in our interview series with Calhoun County Sheriff candidates.

QUESTION: Do you plan to operate the county jail? If not, what is your plan for the jail?

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RESPONSES (Candidates listed in reverse alphabetical order today)

ADAM TERRY: It is my belief it would not be cost effective for anybody other than the sheriff to run the jail.

TOMASI MATAUTIA: I would try to maintain and see what we have at the jail. I would like to get our jail to be more involved in housing our own inmates, including females, instead of spreading them out to some of the counties nearby. That would cut down on some of the costs to the Sheriff’s Office. Hopefully, I can try to get some certified female staff to help keep the female inmates in our jail.

GLENN KIMBREL: I do plan to operate the county jail. That is a secure facility. I think it would deem to be important for the chief law enforcement officer of the county to operate the jail for security reasons.

EARL HUNT: I am planning on operating the county jail just like it’s been run and planning on keeping all the employees.

KEN FUTCH: At this point, I see no reason not to maintain the jail under the current umbrella of the sheriff. To avoid any further burden on the taxpayers, it only seems reasonable that the sheriff continue to operate the jail. As your sheriff, it’s important that I maintain a strong working relationship with our other county officials to the extent I would research whether it’s feasible to bring back the female population, as well. Having been a previous jail administrator, I find myself separated from the other candidates, given my working knowledge of the jail.

JIMMY BAGGETT: If I’m elected sheriff, we’re still going to operate the county jail. When citizens of Calhoun County come to visit their loved ones at the Calhoun County Jail, they will be treated with dignity and respect.

PONEY ADAMS: My plan is to get a grant and build a new jail. Have the state prisoners to do the work, grant money to buy the materials and use the 2 to 3 acres behind the courthouse for the site.