THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9510310092
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story: Campaign '95
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Long : 140 lines
SIGNS. SIGNS. Everywhere signs.
If you didn't know an election is going on in this rural county, a short ride though almost any corner would soon tell you.
And many of the largest and most colorful signs are touting the qualifications of the sheriff's candidates - three of them.
Incumbent C.W. ``Charlie'' Phelps has been in office for eight years. Throughout the campaign, which started early this year, Phelps has based his qualifications on his record.
And he likes best the words used by one supporter, referring to the sheriff's office, in a recent letter to the editor of a local newspaper: ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it.''
But Shelton Spivey, a Windsor town councilman and adult-probation officer in Hampton, firmly believes it is broken. And he thinks he's the man who can fix it.
Spivey calls himself ``the man with the plan.''
On the outside, like a lone horse in a fast-paced race, is William T. ``Billy'' Chrisman, a soft-spoken police officer for the town of Smithfield. Chrisman has less experience in law enforcement than either of the other two candidates.
He was an electrical and general contractor until he joined the Smithfield Police Department in 1989. Since then, he's taken law enforcement courses and participated in seminars that range from operating a Breathalyzer to advanced video surveillance techniques. Chrisman says he is confident he can do the job.
``I'm not going to harp on what Sheriff Phelps has or hasn't done,'' he said in an interview recently. ``I'm going to work hard if I'm elected, and I will be strong on drug enforcement.''
Phelps, 51, first ran for sheriff in 1983 but was defeated. He was elected to the office in 1987. If re-elected, it would be his third term.
Phelps is a Newport News native who spent 16 years on the Smithfield Police Department before running for sheriff.
Spivey, 45, is an Isle of Wight native. He was an 18-year veteran with the Suffolk Sheriff's Department before he started working in Hampton three years ago. He was elected to the Windsor Town Council last year.
Spivey has a master's degree in urban studies, counseling and education from Old Dominion University and a master's from Golden State University in public administration/-government. He is an adjunct professor at both Paul D. Camp and Tidewater community colleges.
Phelps, with some college behind him, said he is running on his years of experience and on his performance during the two terms he's served.
Chrisman, 39, is the youngest of the political trio. He's a Portsmouth native and a 1974 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. He also has attended Paul D. Camp Community College.
He is general field training instructor and a firearms instructor on the Smithfield force.
Since very early in the campaign, Spivey has attacked the record that Phelps is so proud of.
Spivey pledges, if elected, he will join the regional drug task force, something Phelps says isn't worth the expense and time required.
``Drugs are here - nobody's denying that,'' Phelps said. ``But we don't have a heavy drug population in Isle of Wight. We don't see the overdoses, the drive-by shootings, the signs of people being strung out on drugs. We're not seeing the domestic violence related to drug use. When you weigh the signs, we don't have a drug epidemic in Isle of Wight.''
Whether there truly is such as epidemic in the county or not, citizens are concerned, Chrisman said. And if he's elected, he intends to pay attention to those concerns.
``In campaigning all over the county, I have had what I already believed reinforced,'' Chrisman said. ``There is a strong family structure in Isle of Wight. These are close-knit communities with people who look out for one another. They want a strong police image. They want the police to be a part of the communities.''
Phelps thinks the sheriff's deputies already are a part of the communities. He's established satellite offices is several areas, initiated a bicycle patrol and worked for more drug education in the schools.
Spivey criticizes all of that. There's no need for a satellite office in Smithfield, he says. Smithfield has its own law enforcement. He calls the bike patrol a waste of money. And there's more to fighting drugs than the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program in the schools, Spivey says.
``Drugs are at the top of the list of citizens' concerns.''
And Spivey has answers to questions that have arisen during the campaign about his law enforcement experience in the Suffolk Sheriff's Dept. Critics say he was simply a jailer and warrant server, that he never participated in investigations or arrests.
``I've made numerous arrests in both Isle of Wight and Suffolk,'' he said. ``I've obtained search warrants, conducted investigations. I'm really getting tired of hearing it.''
Besides, Spivey said, most of the work the sheriff has to do is administrative. He says he has the experience and the education to get the job done.
``Law enforcement is just a small spoke in the wheel,'' he said. ``There is public relations, community involvement, courtroom procedures, the jail. I've supervised a budget in Suffolk three times as big as Isle of Wight's budget. I've written grants, started programs. I have the education and experience this job demands.''
Phelps doesn't agree. He has office personnel to handle much of the administrative work, he says, although he does act as supervisor. Phelps contends that most of the work does involve the actual law enforcement end of the business.
Phelps and Spivey have argued for months over who would best serve the people.
Chrisman, the first to announce his candidacy, said he decided early on that he would run a clean campaign based on his merits.
``I've stayed away from the criticism. I've had a lot of support from all over the county. Many people have come together and helped with my campaign. I think it's been a fair one.''
On Nov. 7, the voters will decide. MEMO: MORE ON ELECTIONS
The Virginian-Pilot offers more information for voters:
Today: 1995 Voter Guide, a comprehensive look at the region's issues
and candidates, plus maps illustrating legislative voting districts.
This week: Profiles of the two candidates in the 64th District state
House seat, which includes Isle of Wight County.
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
ALMOST DECISION DAY
[Color] Staff photo JOHN H. SHEALLY II
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY SHERIFF
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Billy Chrisman is a Smithfield police officer.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Charlie Phelps has served as sheriff for eight years.
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Shelton Spivey is a Windsor town councilman and adult-probation
officer in Hampton.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Political items come in all shapes and sizes.
KEYWORDS: CAMPAIGN PROFILE CANDIDATES SHERIFFS RACE by CNB