Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ending speculation as to who in the Sheriff's Office would or wouldn't seek the job, Sgt. Dave Cooper and Lt. Vernon Goode both said this week they intend to run as independents. Investigator Ricky Gardner said he won't run.
Cooper and Goode will be joined on the campaign trial by the two previously announced candidates: Doug Maynard, an investigator for the Bedford and Roanoke public defender's offices who's running as an independent; and Mike Brown, an international security consultant who will be the Republican candidate.
"I want to see about helping the department and the employees there," said Cooper, a 24-year career officer. "I'm afraid if somebody outside gets [elected], they'll just clean house. But we have got some intelligent, dedicated people down there, and I want to see the department get the respect it deserves."
If elected, Cooper said he would start a physical fitness program for deputies and support funding for deputies to further their education. He also said he would hold frequent community meetings and would establish an auxiliary police force of retired law officers.
Goode, a 30-year veteran of the sheriff's office, runs the county's jail annex in Moneta. He's also president of the Saunders Volunteer Fire Co. and has been a member of many civic clubs and organizations, including the Smith Mountain Lake Ruritan Club.
Though Goode said his formal announcement is still to come, "We're clear to run, and I'm anticipating running, let's put it that way," he said.
The fact that Goode and Cooper are interested in the job is a sign that Wells probably won't run for re-election.
As for Gardner, he said: "I'm not going to run. I've just evaluated my priorities, and being sheriff is not in the top three. I want to spend more time with my family. I don't feel like at this point in my life that being sheriff is that important to me. Maybe down the road ... Who knows what will happen in four years?''
Gardner led the investigation of the 1985 murders of Boonsboro couple Derek and Nancy Haysom. He flew to London with prosecutor Jim Updike to arrest the Haysoms' daughter, Elizabeth, and her lover, Jens Soering, who were eventually convicted in connection with the murders.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB