It almost didn’t happen when we walked into Franco’s Italian Restaurant and saw Sheriff Ron McNesby sitting at one of the tables. We both thought someone was playing a practical joke on us.
Fortunately, someone for David Morgan’s group called us into the private dining room. What Duwayne and I thought was a small lunch was really a mini-campaign rally with people who had been with Morgan when he announced his campaign on the steps outside of the Supervisor of Elections office – Jack Moran, David Craig, Leroy Boyd, Debra Thompson, Greg & Arety Sievers, Dr. Michael Berkland, Mr. Powell (John Powell’s father) were among the group.
Duwayne and I sat next to Morgan and were able to get our interview.
Here are my notes:
Morgan said he filed today, because McNesby had already filed. In 2004, Morgan didn’t get in the sheriff’s race until ten months before the primary. He hopes by filing now that he will better compete with McNesby for campaign dollars and endorsements.
Last time, McNesby raised over $180,000. Morgan believes he will need at least $100,000 to run an effective campaign. The other advantage of the early filing: “It gives the citizens time to get to know us.”
Morgan pledged to run a clean campaign. “I will not make personal attacks on a candidate or his family. I’m not going to go there.”
But he will run on issues and tell the truth.
One area he will address is crime statistics, Morgan believes that all crimes aren’t being logged. He related one story of a relative reporting a crime in his neighborhood. It never was recorded.
“If I’m elected, initially you may see crime rising, because we will report all crimes.”
When asked about the bureacracy inside the ECSO, Morgan said. “We have to accept we are the bureacracy. Controlling or changing it has been in the ‘Too Hard to Handle’ box for too long.”
When asked why he’s running:
“I don’t need the job. My wife and I are financially secure. I’m rather a relunctant candidate, but people have been approaching me over the past few months about running again.”
“Someone needs to run. If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”
“The community has lost faith in the sheriff and doesn’t trust his administration.”
“The law applies to me and everyone.”
“I very well may be a one-term sheriff. But I will not put an officer’s life in danger.”
When asked about how he would have dealt with the deaths in the Escambia Jail:
First death: I would have called in all personnel involved and their supervisors, he said. “This death is not acceptable.” He would have ordered a top-to-bottom review.
Second death: Somebody needs to go.
Third death: Ask for outside help – County Commissioners, State, Feds, etc,, because, he said, it would be obvious that the problem is beyond the sheriff’s scope.
“I’m not sure anyone was ever been disciplined or fired over the deaths in the jail.”
Can person not brought up through the ranks of the ECSO be an effective sheriff?
“Charlie Morris is the sheriff in Okaloosa County. He and I have very similar credentials. He’s doing a fine job.”
When asked about shortage of deputies and corrections officers:
“The problems are retention and recruitment. The officers deserve a liveable wage. Too much is spent on administration. Right now, of the 1,300 employees, 55% are admin – we don’t need one administrator for every deputy on patrol.”
When asked about how he would run the ECSO, if elected:
“You don’t go in making a lot of changes right away. It creates too much turmoil.”
“You ride on the patrols. Pull a shift in the jail. Try to identify problems first.”
“Meet with department heads, supervisors. Give them two weeks to come up with “get right” plans.”
“Present the plans. Impliment them and review in 30-60 days. Make corrections. If after six to eight months, things have not improved. Somebody has to go.”
“Of course, anyone committing crimes is dealt with immediately.”