Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170146
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Kicking off what promises to be the most contested election for Bedford County sheriff in more than 30 years, an investigator in the Roanoke Public Defender's Office plans to announce his candidacy today on the steps of the Bedford County Courthouse.
Doug Maynard, 46, a former Roanoke police officer and FBI fingerprint expert who also served as chairman of the Bedford County Planning Commission, will run as an independent. Although he is the first candidate to formally enter the race, the competition is lining up.
Before long, Maynard could be just one name on a November ballot that also could include a veteran special agent with the state police, a consultant to the U.S. Justice Department who also worked for the CIA, a senior Bedford County sheriff's deputy ... and maybe Bedford County Sheriff Carl Wells himself.
"Doug must be getting a jump on the pack," said Hubert Roberts, a former Bedford County Democratic Party chairman. "And from what I understand, there'll be a pack of them before it's all over."
There has been a lot of speculation that the 58-year-old Wells, who battled bladder cancer four years ago, will retire this year instead of seeking a sixth term.
And because of the bad publicity he has received in recent years, another run could be difficult for Wells.
The county Board of Supervisors waged a public war against him in and out of court last year over $15,000 in interest accrued from employee payroll funds that he deposited into his private bank account.
After the bitter dispute had lasted almost a year, Wells settled out of court and reimbursed the county $2,000, after shelling out more than $8,000 of his own money in legal fees.
That battle came on the heels of another problem in the Sheriff's Office: Well's heir apparent, Lt. Steve Rush, was demoted after he and other deputies admitted drinking on duty. Rush since has quit.
Wells, an independent who never has faced a serious challenge at the polls and ran unopposed in the past two elections, remains silent as to his intentions this year.
Nevertheless, many political activists think that if he does run again, he will be defeated.
Bedford County Republicans are banking on that. They plan to run Mike Brown, a 51-year-old consultant on international criminal investigations with the U.S. Justice Department, who began his career in the mid-1960s as a Bedford County Sheriff's deputy.
"We think anybody is defeatable by Mike Brown," said Gerry Walker, former chairwoman of the Bedford County Republican Party. "He is an exceptional person with a long list of credentials. Bedford has grown by leaps and bounds, and we need somebody like Mike who has the background and can do a real super job."
Brown will be the first candidate for a constitutional office in Bedford County history to run as a Republican, Walker said. Typically, county candidates for constitutional office run as independents.
"Because of my background and my work with police agencies around the world, I believe I can get a lot done in Bedford County," Brown said. "Bedford County has some great people in the sheriff's department. The potential is just phenomenal. I'd like to see the department get the credit it is due."
Brown also lists on his resume a stint as a support specialist with the CIA. What did he do as a support specialist? It's classified, Brown says quite seriously.
He plans to announce his candidacy formally within the next two or three weeks.
Another contender is Capt. Ronnie Laughlin, a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, who says he will run as an independent.
"I've been testing the waters for some time," he said. "I've received support from all areas of the county. I feel my experience in the sheriff's department will help me in providing the type of service the citizens of Bedford County deserve."
Laughlin, 53, supervises law enforcement in the county courts and once was considered a shoo-in to succeed Wells. But he has fallen out of favor with the sheriff in recent years.
At least one potential candidate is so sure he could win the race, he's willing to bet his job on it.
Tony Mayhew, a 45-year-old special agent with the state police, hasn't decided to run yet, but said he's pretty sure he will.
However, he is prevented by police regulations from running for office while on active duty. "I'm considering a leave of absence. If that doesn't work out, I would even consider resigning," Mayhew said.
"I feel the sheriff's department needs guidance and direction. It needs somebody who doesn't need to establish their credentials or professional capability."
A 25-year veteran with the state police, Mayhew piloted the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in Bedford County schools. He has coordinated the program in 11 counties and four cities in central Virginia in the past 8 years.
If he runs, he will run as an independent. He expects to announce by April.
And that's not all: At least one other Bedford County deputy and two Lynchburg police officers are being mentioned as possible candidates, and the county Democratic Party hasn't decided if it will back a candidate.
The 1995 Bedford County sheriff's race will be the most contested election since 1963, when Sheriff Rucker Mitchell, who hired Wells, ran unsuccessfully against his chief deputy, Jack Cundiff.
Wells, who allied himself with Cundiff, was appointed sheriff in 1974 when Cundiff quit to take a state law-enforcement job.
As to why the candidates think this will be a good year to run, they remain mute, refusing to discuss Wells' troubles.
"It's not our aim to castigate [Wells]. Our aim is to present a well-qualified candidate," said Walker, the former Republican chairwoman.
"I'm not going to get into it," said Brown, the Republican candidate. "Carl's served the county well. I've considered him a friend, and I hope we'll still be friends, regardless of what happens with the election."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB