Pubdate: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY) Copyright: 2002 Messenger-Inquirer Contact: http://www.messenger-inquirer.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285 Author: David Blackburn FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS IS PRIORITY FOR CANDIDATES 2002 General Election The race for Muhlenberg County sheriff is two years and several clashes in the making. But both incumbent Jerry Mayhugh and challenger Jody Hawkins agree on the county's top need -- eliminating drugs, especially methamphetamine. "That's the number one priority on my list," Mayhugh said. "I feel we're beginning to get a handle on it." Mayhugh said the new county jail has more space in which to house offenders and the county has started a drug court to help avoid repeat offenders. The sheriff's department is already "at the next level" as far as fighting the meth problem. He and Deputy Eddie Perry are certified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and Perry is qualified to disassemble a meth lab, he said. "We've been educated by doing," Mayhugh said. The county "is probably the drug capital of western Kentucky," Hawkins said. Hawkins, who wants to have a full-time deputy working only drug cases, blames some of that on what he said is a lack of a real drug policy in the sheriff's department. Honesty, not drugs, is the top priority of his platform, said Hawkins, who readily says he and Mayhugh do not like each other. "I'm a public servant; I serve the people," Hawkins said. "He's built him a kingdom." In newspaper, radio and television ads, he has questioned Mayhugh's hiring of his wife and sister as deputies and the practice of paying mileage to deputies for using their vehicles for work. He also claims Mayhugh is under investigation by Kentucky State Police and the FBI. Asked to respond to the remarks, Mayhugh said he knows of no such investigations. He said he has been contacted in the past by agencies who have received anonymous complaints about the sheriff's department. Mayhugh said the nepotism accusation was unfounded because his wife and sister were grandfathered in before a county ordinance banned it. He also said the car policy was in effect when he took office. The Muhlenberg Fiscal Court increased the per-mile reimbursement to 37 cents without a request from his office, he said. Mayhugh said his lack of respect for Hawkins stems from past disagreements over control of the sheriff's department's radio channel when Hawkins was Muhlenberg County 911 Dispatch director. "When I have to run around telling you I'm honest . . . a red flag goes up" and raises doubts, Mayhugh said. "If people didn't feel I was honest, they wouldn't have put me in here." Hawkins said he plans to "professionalize" the department, starting with having the county own patrol cars and installing on-board computers. He said he would use money from his salary, if necessary, to buy the first two vehicles. That would save money, and maintenance work and gas is available at the county Road Department, Hawkins said. Hawkins wants to put into each high school a deputy who would provide security while running programs at elementary and middle schools. He plans to assign a detective to work only assault and property crime cases and create an office manned 24 hours a day. And all of that will be done on a smaller budget with fewer deputies, said Hawkins, who plans to trim two positions in the first year. The money would then be used to pay remaining deputies more, he said. "We can run it on less," Hawkins said. He also wants to install a "closest unit" policy, which would send the nearest law enforcement officer, regardless of agency, to an emergency call. Hawkins said the policy would improve relations with other agencies while providing quicker response. Mayhugh said his department is available around the clock and has a rapid response time. He said a deputy can be on the scene anywhere in the county in 16 or 17 minutes. Mayhugh also wants computers in patrol cars. He has been looking into two pieces of technology, too, he said. The automatic vehicle locator can tell where a patrol car is at any given moment, and computer aided dispatch allows a dispatcher to route a 911 call to a patrol car. Paying for the new technology "will have to happen through confiscated drug funds," he said. Mayhugh said he has already bought three digital cameras, anti-drug literature for children and three computers with such funds. "I'm looking, reading and shopping," Mayhugh said - --- Jody Hawkins Party: Republican Age: 54 Address: 1466 Cornette Road, Greenville Family: Wife, Dr. Susan Hawkins; sons, Carson and Craig; daughters, Robin and Joy Job: Retired Education: 1966 Hancock County High School; 1968 graduate of Lake Sumter Community College, Leesburg, Fla.; Kentucky State Police trooper training course Elected offices: None Leadership positions: Former director of Muhlenberg County 911 Dispatch and Muhlenberg County Emergency Management; former president of Muhlenberg County Fair Board and Greenville Chamber of Commerce Top two issues: Honesty and eliminating drugs Jerry Mayhugh Party: Democrat Age: 57 Address: 101 Mayhugh Lane, Central City Family: Wife, Carolann; daughters, Kim Oliver and Kelli Rose Job: Muhlenberg County sheriff (1994-present) Education: 1963 Drakesboro High School graduate; law enforcement academy at Eastern Kentucky University (1996); labor management courses through the University of Kentucky Elected offices: Muhlenberg County sheriff Leadership positions: Chairman of the Muhlenberg County 911 Dispatch Advisory Board; member of the Madisonville Technical College Law Enforcement Advisory Committee Top two issues: Eliminating drugs and involvement with, and fitting in to, the community - --- MAP posted-by: Beth