By Eleanor Boudreau
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-913133.mp3
Memphis, TN – There's a new sheriff in town (almost). Early voting is underway in statewide primaries and local elections.
The current sheriff, Republican Mark Luttrell, threw his hat into the county mayor's race; and now Congressman Steve Cohen's District Director Randy Wade and Bill Oldham and are battling it out to take his place. Oldham used to be Luttrell's Chief Deputy. He resigned unexpectedly this week so he could stay in the sheriff race. To learn more about that click here.
Even though one candidate is a Republican and one's a Democrat, there are a lot of similarities between them. For starters, the jail used to be run by gangs, but Luttrell turned it around; now it's run by guards. Unsurprisingly, Oldham, the Republican (and, again, Luttrell's former second in command) praises this accomplishment. The surprise is that Wade, the Democrat, also praises Luttrell. Both candidates promise to maintain the jail's accreditation.
Wade wants to find alternative ways to fight crime.
"I just don't think that always arresting young people is the answer," Wade said. Wade wants to use inmate labor to convert boarded-up ex-crack houses into places where kids can go after school and study.
Oldham also wants alternatives.
"We'll never arrest our way out of our situation," Oldham said. Oldham wants to get the sheriff's department more involved tutoring kids and mentoring them in athletic leagues.
Voters will decide who wears the sheriff's hat.
Early voting ends the last day in July. The election is August 5th.