Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995                   TAG: 9503020041
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

8TH CANDIDATE ANNOUNCES RUN FOR MONTGOMERY SHERIFF

Whitt, 42, of Christiansburg, announced Tuesday that he will seek the Democratic nomination to be placed on the November ballot.

That brings the total to eight people running for sheriff - five Democratic contenders, two Republican hopefuls and one independent candidate.

Whitt recalled mentioning, when a reporter interviewed him at the start of his law enforcement career in 1976, that he one day would like to follow in his father's footsteps and head his own department. James M. Whitt was Radford's police chief from 1975 to 1986.

"It's always been a dream of mine and I realized that my opportunity would present itself some day," Whitt said of his decision to run for sheriff. "This just happens to be an excellent opportunity, as I see it."

Sheriff Ken Phipps' announcement in January that he would not seek a second term has heightened interest in the position. Like Whitt, those who have pondered a run in the past see the lack of an incumbent sheriff as the time to make a run without jeopardizing goodwill within the office and with neighboring departments.

Whitt joined the Sheriff's Office in 1984 after working eight years for the Christiansburg Police Department. Before that, he was in the U.S. Marine Corps and attained the rank of E-5 sergeant.

At the Sheriff's Office, Whitt is the lieutenant of the patrol division and supervises 32 employees, including patrol deputies, communications operations, criminal warrants staff, crime prevention officers, and DARE and county ordinance officers.

Whitt is commander of the Tactical Response Team, which he helped form in 1993.

His other responsibilities include scheduling, purchasing equipment, compiling statistics and reviewing all criminal complaints.

Whitt said one of his goals as sheriff would be to continue Phipps' efforts to update the deputies' portable radios and the communications system that is hindered by Montgomery County's mountainous terrain. Whitt hopes the improvements can be paid for through grants.

He also would like to train more deputies as DARE instructors, perhaps rotating them into schools to relieve the one deputy who is teaching the program now.

Whitt is a Radford High School graduate and has completed training at the New River and Cardinal Criminal Justice police academies.

Whitt said residents with concerns or questions they would like to discuss may call him at 382-7845.

Chief Deputy Dan Haga is seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff, and Lt. Joe Morgan also is seeking the Democratic nomination.

Other candidates are: Garnett Adkins, independent; Democrats Jerry Olinger, Frank Akers and Joe Miles; and Republican contender Doug Marrs.

Keywords:
POLITICS