The five Republican candidates running for Caldwell County sheriff in the May primary participated in a Meet and Greet hosted by the Caldwell County Republican Executive Committee at the courthouse last week.
The candidates include Chris Noel, Brent McDowell, Don Weedman, Steve Caldwell, and Keith Suits.
Suits was the last Republican candidate to speak at the forum. He said what qualifies him, if elected to be sheriff is his experience with the Department of Corrections where he served as a sergeant, his experience as a K-9 handler, and working at the Princeton Police Department, Marion Police Department, and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office.
In addition, Suits said he feels he has other qualifications to be the sheriff.
click to download audioSuits, who currently is a deputy and K-9 handler with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, said he believes pro-active policing and being a little aggressive at first to get some of those distributing drugs into the community is a start to addressing the drug problem in Caldwell. In addition, he wants to get a K-9 Unit, if funding is available, and work with the court system more to get treatment for those addicted to drugs.
click to download audioSuits added another thing is being pro-active in the communities to see what’s going on. He said they need to make contacts and communicate with those in the communities to help the sheriff’s department with recognizing where some of the bigger drug problems are occurring.
click to download audioHe also said better communication is needed between law enforcement agencies and they need to work together instead of working against each other. Suits also said he feels like a meeting once or twice a month with some of the leaders with state police and city police would help to develop a better working relationship.
You can hear Keith Suits’ complete answers to the questions by clicking on the audio below.
The Caldwell County Republican Executive Committee will host another forum tonight (Tuesday) night at 6:00 that will include the Republican candidates running for county clerk, coroner and jailer at the courthouse. The final forum will be held on Tuesday, May 3, at 6 p.m. for the Republican candidates running for 8th District State Representative and those running in the 56th Judicial District judges race.
