The crowded field of qualifiers for the Lowndes County Sheriff”s race added another name Friday.
Recently resigned District 2 Justice Court Judge Mike Arledge stepped down from the bench to become a candidate. He announced plans to enter the fray weeks ago but chose to wait and hear several more cases before qualifying.
Arledge, 55, has worked in law enforcement since 1981 when he joined the Mississippi Highway Patrol. He worked his way through several other departments within the Department of Public Safety, including the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Implied Consent Division, which deals with tests such as those to determine DUI offenses.
He spent a year with the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Department before leaving to run for District 2 Justice Court Judge. Arledge was nearing the end of his second term.
Although he has no higher degrees in law enforcement, Arledge believes his experience sets him apart.
“Working in all the different divisions gives insight into how departments work,” said Arledge. “Then, as a justice court judge, you hear all the cases from the sheriff”s department or, if they”re felonies, send them to the grand jury or circuit court. I”ve got a good feel for how the process has to run in order to run smoothly.
“I think we”ve got good law enforcement in Lowndes County and I think I can take it to another step, another level. I feel I”m the person who can give that to the citizens of Lowndes County.”
Arledge will face Bo Harris and Joey Brackin in the Republican primary. Sherman Vaughn and Selvain McQueen have qualified as Democrats and Anthony C. Nelson as an independent.
Ted Richards plans to qualify as one of the candidates to replace Arledge as District 2 Justice Court Judge.
Richards, 63, has yet to collect the necessary signatures to qualify as an independent but intends to turn them in Monday, one day before the qualifying deadline.
Currently a bailiff for Lowndes County Circuit Court, Richards is retired from the U.S. Army and Waters Truck and Tractor. He touts his objectivity as his greatest asset.
“I feel like the people of Lowndes County need somebody who can be fair and equal to everybody when it comes to enforcing the law,” he said. “I”ve lived in the district for 29 years and I”ve been around the school systems, the court systems and the law. I just feel like I could be an asset to the community.”
Richards counts the two Republican qualifiers for the District 2 seat, Ron Cooke and Wyatt Mills, as friends.
Howard Smart Sr., 55, wants to put God in control of District 4. The Crawford farmer qualified to run for District 4 Supervisor at the behest of friends and supporters.
“I see the needs of the people in District 4 and over the last three years I haven”t seen much progress,” he said. “I feel I can deal with people and we can come together as a whole, as one without arguing. We just voice our opinion and try to do what”s right and fair and let God do the rest. I”m a man God can use to find a way to get things done.”
Smart spent 15 years with the county road department but plans to bring legal action surrounding his firing in 2008.
Smart will face incumbent Jeff Smith and Anthony Sanders in the Democratic primary.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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