Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180081
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Surrounded by friends, family, campaign workers and public relations staff, Doug Maynard, a 46-year-old independent, unveiled his campaign platform in a news conference on the front steps of the Bedford County Courthouse.
Framed by a bright blue banner hanging from the courthouse's stone pillars, Maynard said that if elected he would create inmate work camps and redraw patrol districts to increase law-enforcement coverage.
``I stand for a sheriff's department that promotes modern, professional and efficient law enforcement - a sheriff's department that's friendly to the citizens, and a sheriff's department that's tough on crime,'' he said.
Maynard cited his 18 years as an investigator in the Public Defender's Office, three years as a Roanoke police officer and seven years as an FBI fingerprint expert.
Maynard, who lives in the Thaxton area of Bedford County, also served two terms on the county Planning Commission, including a stint as chairman. He was instrumental in developing the county's first zoning system - the controversial land-use guidance system.
He said he supports state and county inmates' raising food and livestock for their own consumption and to sell outside the jail system. He also called for increased drug-abuse and law-enforcement education in county schools.
Maynard said he would improve emergency response time by dividing the county into four districts that would be constantly patrolled by deputies.
He said he has been planning to run for more than two years and has raised more than $4,000 in contributions.
Maynard deferred on several questions about Wells.
Wells has received bad publicity in recent years over deputies' drinking on duty and over interest accrued from payroll funds he deposited in his private bank account.
Maynard said he has talked to Wells about his candidacy, but Wells ``will not make a statement as to whom he's supporting, because he's holding out the option of running himself.''
Insiders close to Wells, 58, say he has changed his mind several times about running for a sixth term.
County Supervisor Gus Saarnijoki, who was at the news conference, said he'll support Maynard even if Wells does run again.
Though Maynard is the first candidate to formally announce, there are several others waiting in the wings. Republicans plan to run Mike Brown, a consultant on international criminal investigations to the U.S. Justice Department. Brown said he will announce his candidacy within the next two or three weeks.
Capt. Ronnie Laughlin, a 32-year veteran of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, also is a contender. And Special Agent Tony Mayhew, who has 25 years with the state police, has said he is seriously considering entering the race.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.