EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second installment of a three-part series introducing the candidates in the March 7 primary contest for Lawrence County sheriff.

Friday, February 25, 2000

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second installment of a three-part series introducing the candidates in the March 7 primary contest for Lawrence County sheriff. The final installment will appear in Monday’s edition of The Ironton Tribune.

With 15 years of law enforcement experience and 20 years of management experience, Lawrence County sheriff candidate Russell Bennett believes he will bring solid knowledge to the job if he is elected.

But first, Bennett must face-off with current sheriff Roy Smith in the March 7 democratic primary election.

"If I am elected sheriff, I would like to utilize my years of experience in law enforcement as chief of the Chesapeake Police Department and my management experience with a major oil company in the county," Bennett said.

If elected, Bennett said he has two goals topping his priority list.

"I want to concentrate on getting more patrols throughout the county and on finding a way to provide the county with a new jail," he said. "There are areas of the county, like Rome, Andis, Wilgus and Linville, that do not have their own police department. These people deserve quality police protection, so I’d like to focus on ways to provide that protection."

To facilitate spreading the deputy coverage throughout the county, Bennett said he also hopes to find a way to put up a new satellite radio tower, perhaps in the Wilgus area.

"I care about the county; I think Wilgus, Linville, Aid, Andis and Rome that don’t have city police departments should get as much attention as the rest of the places do," he said. "If you are a county sheriff, you have to take care of the whole county. Every place has problems, but the villages have police departments that help out the sheriff’s department quite a bit."

But, the most important area Bennett said he wants to concentrate on is the education of the county youths.

"The children are the decision-makers of the future," he said. "With the easy access society we are living in, it’s more important than ever to educate them about drug abuse, gun control and crime prevention. We must get these programs back in our schools."

During his time in Chesapeake, Bennett has worked with a small budget to expand the department.

"We’ve taken a two-officer department and turned it into an eight-officer department," he said. "We are providing 24-hour protection to the residents and we have purchased top of the line equipment, such as new laser guns and DUI (driving under the influence) testing equipment."

Bennett, 43, has lived in the Proctorville area of the county all his life. His 25-year marriage has given him two children, Joshua, 22, and Jeremiah, 19. Bennett also has two grandchildren, Jaydon, 5, and Jaylee, 3.

Bennett said he can use his law-enforcement experience to prioritize items in the sheriff’s department and effectively execute the job of Lawrence County Sheriff.

But, he knows the job will be a challenge – one he’s ready to take on, he added.

"You don’t really know what you can do until you get in there and see what you have to work with," he said. "I know Mr. Smith has been doing his job – I think he’s done a good job with what he’s had to work with, but, with my experience, maybe I can take it to a higher level and do better. I hope the voters will give me that opportunity."