Chief Allen Branum Would Continue To Run Office Until August Election
posted February 28, 2008
The County Commission is expected to vote next Wednesday not to appoint an interim sheriff.
Instead, the commission is expected to leave Chief Allen Branum in charge of the department until the August election for a new sheriff.
Commissioner Greg Beck said, "From the start, I questioned the need for appointing an interim sheriff when we already had a situation where the department is functioning and running well."
He said, "Five months is just not enough time for an interim sheriff to learn the inner workings of this office. Naming someone now would be paying for a very expensive doorkeeper."
Commissioner Beck said, "We're doing OK and we should keep it that way."
Commissioner Curtis Adams said, "Our sheriff's department is in good hands now."
Commissioner Larry Henry said there is "a genuine concern" among sheriff employees about the direction an interim sheriff might take. "They're concerned about what could happen in those five months."
He added, "I don't want to see the department turned upside down."
However, Commissioner Jim Coppinger says state law says the commission "shall" appoint an interim when there is a vacancy.
He said it would not be fair to Chief Branum to have him act as sheriff and not pay him the sheriff's salary.
Commissioners said it would cost $54,000 to fund an interim sheriff, and it might be as much as $100,000 if a new chief deputy was named.
Chief Branum had been among 10 applicants for the interim sheriff job. The commission interviewed all the contenders.
However, commission members said it was proving difficult to find one of the 10 who could secure the needed five votes.
Under this arrangement, Chief Branum would be free to run for sheriff in August. The commission had asked the candidates for interim sheriff to pledge they would not run.
County Democrats and Republicans will hold nominating conventions and each come up with a candidate. Others can run as Independents.
A vacancy arose when former Sheriff Billy Long was arrested on federal charges.
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