Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995 TAG: 9502210057
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Long
Two more candidates have emerged for sheriff, bringing the slate to six, with the election 81/2 months away.
Christiansburg Lt. Doug Marrs, a 28-year veteran police officer, announced Monday he will seek the Republican nomination.
Lt. Joe Morgan, a 23-year veteran deputy sheriff, announced he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the post.
Marrs, 47, joined the Christiansburg Police Department in 1971 after 21/2 years as a Blacksburg patrol officer. "In fact, I started with Bill Brown," who is now Blacksburg's police chief.
Marrs turned to police work after a brief stint as a guard at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. He also served in the Army as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, receiving the Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam.
Marrs is a member of VFW Post 5311 and First Church of God in Blacksburg, where he chairs the finance committee and has served on the church's board.
Marrs became Christiansburg's first investigator in 1977, and is stressing his administrative experience in that post, which makes him the department's third in command.
"Literally, I've run the investigative unit over there," Marrs said, including writing grant proposals, assisting in writing department policies, reviewing incident reports and supervising the unit's three investigators. He is also in charge of the department's Color Guard, which performed official duties at the funerals of Officer Terry Griffith and Wythe County Deputy Cliff Dicker last year.
Marrs, who has an associate's degree in law enforcement from New River Community College, is an instructor at the New River Valley Police Academy, and has taught classes in crime scene investigation, interviewing and interrogation techniques, and leadership. He is developing a course in hostage negotiation for the academy.
Marrs, who was not previously active in the Republican Party, said he had considered the bid for sheriff for some time.
"I've had people come up and ask me to run ...," Marrs said. He made his announcement after discussing his plans with Chief Ron Lemons and Town Manager John Lemley.
Morgan, 60, said running for sheriff has been an option he's considered all his professional life.
Morgan proudly pulls out a tattered copy of a 1972 article by the News Messenger which profiled him as the county's first black deputy. Like then, he said, he wants "to set an example for others to follow. ... It was always in the back of my mind."
Morgan has worked in all aspects of the county's Sheriff's Office, from cook to patrol lieutenant.
For the last 21/2 years, Morgan has served as lieutenant of the support services unit. His duties include being responsible for the civil division - which serves warrants and oversees the Circuit Court room - and maintaining records of supplies, uniforms and other necessary equipment.
For 14 years, he was a patrol lieutenant seeing that shifts carried out their duties, initiating discipline when necessary and helping with public relations.
Earlier in his career, he was a shift patrol sergeant for five years. When he started with the Sheriff's Office, it was not uncommon for deputies to work weekends in the jail, in dispatching and in the kitchen, he said.
Morgan's career in law enforcement began when he and his wife were scanning classified advertisements while he worked at the Squires Barber Shop at Virginia Tech. He applied at all the local departments, but it was Sheriff Barney Arnold who hired him. He has served under three sheriffs, working for Arnold, Sheriff Louis Barber and current Sheriff Ken Phipps.
Phipps, who defeated Barber in November 1991, announced last month that he would not seek a second term in office.
Morgan doesn't foresee any problems with being a candidate for the job Phipps' chief deputy, Dan Haga, also wants. Haga announced last month that he is seeking the GOP nomination.
"I'm not pulling against Phipps. ... It's wide open," Morgan said.
Morgan sent letters to the Montgomery County Democratic Committee late last week, announcing his candidacy. He said his qualifications include his longevity with the department, his ability to communicate with the community and co-workers, fairness, impartiality and honesty.
Morgan is a graduate of the Christiansburg Institute and obtained an associate's degree in police science from New River Community College in 1976. His other experience includes four years in the U.S. Navy, one year as a worker at the arsenal and 15 years as a barber. He is a member of Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church in Christiansburg.
Besides Haga, Morgan and Marrs, others running for the job as Montgomery County's top cop - which pays $51,437 a year - include Garnett Adkins, a Radford deputy sheriff who lives in Christiansburg , who is running as an independent; Frank Akers of Christiansburg, who retired from the Sheriff's Office in November; and Jerry Olinger of Blacksburg, an investigator-sergeant with the Virginia Tech Police Department. Akers and Olinger are seeking the Democratic nod.
What's bringing all these would-be sheriffs out of the woodwork?
"Gosh, I don't know," said Pat Cupp, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Committee.
"Anytime you have an incumbent step down, there's generally more competition for the seat," Cupp said, adding that he thought Phipps would have been tough to beat had he decided to seek re-election.
The list is expected to grow again before the parties each have mass meetings in May or June to select a candidate. That realization prompted one New River Valley officer to quip: "I think down there, the one who has the most family is going to win the election."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB