Questions with the Candidate – Part I
It’s time for the very first edition of “Questions With The Candidate!”
We have two questions today – both on the topic of ‘Experience’:
QUESTION 1: Do you worry that not having direct law-enforcement experience may harm your appeal to potential voters?
ANSWER: “I worry mostly that people will overlook the great benefits of bringing someone with various organizational leadership experience into the Sheriff’s Office despite the lack of direct law enforcement experience, and that folks might get stuck in thinking that “direct experience is an absolute must”….
BUT, at the same time, I am equally comforted in realizing that several of our past Sheriffs (including the current) did not have direct or formal experience in law enforcement, and those folks served the county well.
I also look (and want to point you) toward those folks who have stepped into politics from other careers – folks without a degree in political science or direct experience in the role, but who have made great progress in accomplishing things that other politicians have not been able to get done. I believe it would be a GOOD thing – even if it wasn’t me – to bring in someone who has operated outside of the box; someone who THINKS outside of the box, and someone who brings a new perspective and fresh set of eyes to the Sheriff’s Department.
QUESTION 2: What experience DO you bring to the table?
ANSWER: Though it’s true that I don’t have any direct law enforcement experience, I do have previous experience in Emergency Services, as well as a broad range of experience in Organizational Leadership in both non-profit and for-profit entities. Here’s a few of those experiences:
- Shortly after high school, I served as an EMT on the Hancock County Ambulance Service (stationed in Lewisport).
- I’ve also served as a Deputy Jailer under Priscilla Lambert’s leadership during college.
- I was a member of the Hawesville Volunteer Fire Department for several years – starting quite young within the Cadet program, and later transferred to Lewisport Fire Department (while serving on the Ambulance Service) until I left for college.
- I’ve owned and operated several businesses in the surrounding area (Silvercross Studios & Photography, Owensboro Consulting, LLC, Relative Creative, LLC, Alpha Grooming Products) – before being called into full-time Ministry.
- I spent several years as a Full-Time Baptist Pastor, which involved a great amount of organizational efforts (on top of the primary pastoral responsibilities) including: fundraising, budgeting, grant writing, volunteer coordination and community relations tasks.
- I’m currently employed at Henry’s Plumbing in Owensboro, KY – one of the larger commercial Plumbing and HVAC contractors in Western Kentucky (70+ Employees and growing) – where I held the responsibility of Plumbing Manager for several years, and now serve as the HVAC Residential Install Manager in an effort to continue growing that division.
