Debate for New Kent sheriff highlights candidate forum

Citizens of New Kent got an opportunity to hear viewpoints of candidates vying for offices during a Oct. 15 debate at New Kent Middle School hosted by the New Kent Republican Committee.

Approximately 175 people took seats inside the auditorium as many of New Kent candidates received opportunity to speak about his or her stance, as well as provide a brief reintroduction and reasons for running for office.

Highlighting the night were Charles Gardner and Joe McLaughlin Jr., two current officers with New Kent Sheriff’s Office vying for the position of county sheriff. Current New Kent county sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. is retiring at the end of the year.

“I can see what’s happening on the inside with the sheriff’s department so that I can help and improve what happens on the outside,” said Gardner. “I plan to increase officers on the road and create a program to help a young man or woman get into the law enforcement career to help serve the county.”

“My law enforcement career started out when I worked as a firefighter/deputy,” McLaughlin stated, emphasizing his duties as a former chief of Quinton Volunteer Fire Department. “I was the first New Kent investigator, I have worked in communications, and I believe that I have the skills to move New Kent County forward as sheriff.”

Moderator and New Kent Republican chairman Mark Daniel asked candidates a series of questions. While both Gardner and McLaughlin agreed that safety and privacy of a victim of a crime is top priority, viewpoints in other facets depicted their opinions on what each plan to do with the sheriff’s department in regards to school resource officers (SRO) and the importance of grants.

“I worked in the schools, wrote grants, and supervised the current SROs,” McLaughlin said. “We were denied by state agencies for a fourth SRO in New Kent Elementary because they said it was too close to the high school. I will continue to work to get that fourth SRO into that school.”

“I disagree,” said Gardner. “The sheriff can put who he wants, where he wants. Do we have to wait on a grant to protect our children? The job of the sheriff is to protect the citizens, especially the children. As the sheriff, you change some of the job responsibilities.”

“In regards to grants, I won’t deny that I have little experience,” Gardner continued. “But that is why you surround yourself with good people and have people to turn to.”

“Grants are important to reduce taxpayer money,” commented McLaughlin. “It’s not as simple as picking up and filling out a sheet of paper. It’s justifications, references, and they are extremely important. I have been writing grants for you that have benefitted New Kent, the sheriff’s office, and saved taxpayer money.”

In another contested race, incumbent Norma Holmes and challenger Donna Williams provided reasons for their election to the position of county treasurer.

“Customer service is important,” said Williams. “It is important that staff provide clarity to our citizens to service them better. I will help educate the staff properly so that they are knowledgeable to provide quality service to our citizens.”

“I believe one-on-one interaction with customers is important,” commented Holmes. “My staff is trained to provide professional service and since I’ve been in office, I have personally returned calls and answered questions to help the people of New Kent.”

A three-way tangle for clerk of New Kent Circuit Court saw Amy Crump, Beth Dean Gregory, and K. Scott McPhail provide reasons why citizens should cast their vote in each candidate’s direction.

“I have worked three years in the circuit court office, but I believe my managerial experience from working in outside agencies provide me the edge,” McPhail said.

“I worked from 2004-2009 in the clerk’s office and I believe the insight from my current job at Hudson Law firm has given me more insight because I have dealt with more citizens and interacted with them,” Gregory commented.

“I have worked for 18 years in the court system,” said Crump. “I love the system, the formality of it and the organization of it. There are a lot of things that the system does that not everyday people know about.”

Candidates from other contested races spoke at the debate as well. Delegate Chris Peace and Erica Lawler campaigned for votes for the 97th seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates. Virginia Senator Tommy Norment (3rd District seat) and New Kent supervisor Ron Stiers (District 4) also addressed citizens, Opposition candidates Hugo Reyes (3rd District seat) and Herbert Jones (District 4) were not present due to previous commitments.

Also developing is a contested race in a write-in campaign for the District 3 seat on New Kent’s school board. Sylvia Hathaway announced her intentions as a write-in candidate for the seat being vacated by Leigh Quick who plans to retire. Hathaway joins Andrea Staskiel, who is also competing as a write-in candidate for the position. Staskiel was not in attendance.

Other speakers at the forum involved in uncontested races including Laura Ecimovic (Commissioner of the Revenue), C. Linwood Gregory (Commonwealth’s Attorney), and school board candidates Kristin Swynford (District 2), Gail Hardinge (District 5), and Sarah Grier Barber (District 4). Also present was District 1 board of supervisors member Thomas Evelyn, but he was not invited to speak.

Candidates for the county’s board of supervisors not in attendance were C. Tommy Tiller (District 2), Patricia Paige (District 3), and Ray Davis (District 5).