If all he is running on is getting rid of the durangos...that's pretty thin.

29 years experience, with none of his fellow officers helping him on the campaign, looking for a payback after the election is over. Now that sounds like something I can deal with.

Yeah biggie, that's all he's running on. Get real. Is it possible that out of a long interview, the reporter picked that one subject to print? That is more likely.
Galen will make an excellent Sheriff. Unlike biggie, I don't gather all of my information from one News Press article, but make the effort to hear the candidates speak. Galen stands for more than just eliminating the Durangos as biggie would have you believe.

I am not "leading" anyone to believe anything. It was phrased as a question.

So if you are so informed what else does this candidate stand for?

When I was walking on my campaign trail to ask for support for Galen I was amazed at how many people were ready for a change and how many recognized the name HIGDON, not only from Galen but also his father. So a difference has already been started and I am sure it will continue. I am very proud to be a part of something I know will be a good thing. GO GALEN....

Of the two republican candidates Higdon is definitely the better choice! Way better!

Where can I go get more information on the candidate? Does Galen have a website so potential voters can educate themselves?

I have know Galen for many years. I have watched him grow in his career. I believe that Galen has the experience, the integrity, as well as the ability to make a difference in the City of St. Joseph. I have had the privilege of hearing Galen talk on a couple of difference ocassion the past few weeks, the Dodge Durango is just one issue he is concerned with. Galen would like to see the Sheriff's Dept. patroling Buchanan County like that are suppose to. Galen would like to bring morale back to the Sheriff's Dept, what's wrong with that? Galen would like to have a better working relationship between the Sheriff's Dept., the Police Dept. and the Highway Patrol than what we currently have. I will be voting for Galen Higdon, as well as many of my family members and friends.

I was asked (begged) to vote for Carter, because if he is elected then all the deputies will get a raise.

Galen's promise to improve morale may sound abstract to many voters, but I believe this is the part of his platform that he will be most successful with as the Buchanan County Sheriff. When I was in high school, I worked at the local movie theatre when Galen did weekend security there. In those days, teen peer pressure was a bigger force in my life than I was aware. I always looked forward to working weekend nights because Galen was there with his friendly wisdom. Galen took the time to ask me and my young co-workers what was going on in our lives. Whether we were having trouble in our lives at home, school, or work, he offered positive guidance to each of us. In so many ways, he challenged us to be our best and to try harder to do the right thing. It's been 15 years since I served popcorn, but I can still hear Galen's voice lifting me up in challenging times. I'm a better person today because I knew Galen at an age when it mattered most. Galen leads by example, and I'm increasingly grateful to him as that kind of leadership is becoming a lost art. If you want to vote for someone that you can respect and will respect you, Galen Higdon won't let you down.

Carter claims to be able to save hundreds of thousands of dollars within the budget, yet he's promising all of the deputies raises already? Something doesn't add up there...

Carter is a lot of hot air with not enough knowledge or experience to fill this position.

I agree with all the above comments. I know both Higdon and Carter and can say that the county would be in a huge mess with Carter. Higdon is honest and caring and will do the job fairly. Higdon has 29 years of experience... how old is Mr. Carter? Is he even 29? If you look at his experience he is very good at joining but not keeping to anything. Everything that he lists is just a year here and a couple of years there. We need Higdon!

I think Higdon is a much better candidate. Working around the field, I have heard so many positive things about him from his peers.
I've heard stories about Carter that concern me as a member of this community. Go Higdon you'll have my vote!!!

I don't care who any of you posters think you know in private life, but I know Galen in a WORKING, la enforcement capacity.

His values are those of Mickey Gill. If you guys voted Gill out I can't make sense of why you would vote Higdon in.

I voted for Strong because I was an employee of the department of the time and I thought we needed more proactive enforcement. ANYONE that says the roads need more patrolling than they are now getting are oblivious to the numbers.

Since Strong took over this county has seen more patrolling, arrests, traffic stops and revenue in the form of citions than it had with ANY previous sheriff in the history of Buchanan County.

BUT - Strong comes with corruption (take a look at the recent embezzlement debacle). Does anyone realize the woman who was convicted of the embezzlement is the wife of the man who services the sheriff departments fleet of vehicles? Di you know that during her leniant 30 day sentence she was awarded work-release... TO WORK AT THE FACILITY WHERE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT SERVICES THEIR VEHICLES (K$R Auto Hut, Frederick Ave.)??? Come on people!!! Wake up! If that's not corruption I don't know what is.

I would love to see Bill Puett run and I would campaign for that man. Honest, hard-working and of the most upright integrity I've ever come across in a human.

Brian Carter will get my vote. He is young, knows what needs to be done and has the tenacity to do it. He will not tell you one thing to your face and another behind your back. If Carter is elected, be prepared to hear the truth, even if it hurts.

Ron Fisher is a great guy, I'm just not certain the sheriff position is his calling.

I know every single candidate so far in both personal and professional (law enforcement) capacities.

I'm telling you folks, you think Higdon is immune from nepitism or favorites? Think again folks, he's an old-time just like Gill and holds the same values.

No matter what - YOU ALL NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE COUNTY HAS SEEN MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY THAN EVER BEFORE. So if you're going to run on a platform, it better have nothing to do with, "more patrolling," lest you look like a fool. Galen.

By more patrolling, I think he means enforcement in the rural area. I'm tired of running up and down I-29 and seeing 2 or 3 Durangos running radar, issuing traffic tickets. You don't need gas guzzling SUVs for that, but for that matter the Highway Patrol can patrol the interstates, get the deputies back out in the county where they belong. Which is Galen's point, I believe.

And all you have to do is talk to any officer that had involvement with Carter or his predecessor with the HazMat unit, and they'll tell you Carter just isn't cutout for a leadership role, like Sheriff. If you don't believe me, ask the people that interacted with him in that capacity, they'll tell you.

oh, and I'm sure a number of the people that were fooled into supporting Strong over Gill probably resent that decision now. Mickey was a great guy, his major downfall was the fact he just didn't campaign and thought he could run simply on name recognition.

It's funny also I think Carter was one of the main people on the strong campaign 4 years ago wasn't he? hmm...

The role of sheriff is administrative, budgetary, personnel issues, legal issues, and management. I have read about Mr. Higdon's 29 years of law enforcement but how many of those 29 yrs involve management. I am speaking of more than supervising 2 or 3 people or responding to calls and writing tickets. I would like to hear what Mr. Higdon's management background and skills are. Some people do great jobs at the lower levels of law enforcement, deputy, police officer, but that alone does not mean they are cut out for an executive job. Please dont take my comments as a slam, but I am curious about your qualifications. Good luck Mr. Higdon.
As for Brian Carter or Ron Fisher.............furrgettaboutit!

That's a decent question Venom, but I don't think you'd find that answer here. Mr. Higdon's interview with the News Press is done, so the only way you'll get to hear a response from Galen would be if you went somewhere and heard him speak.

However, that was quite the impressive sign operation Mr. Higdon put forth this weekend, did anyone else notice his signs just popped up everywhere like mushrooms? You might consider that petty since it's simply political campaigning, but that was quite the management effort. WOW!

"Impressive Sign operation", I hope you said that in jest.

But anyway, I have read most of Mr. Higdons comments however there is nothing about his education or management experience, besides 29 yrs in law enforcement. I would think if your are running for office you would want the voters to know what makes you qualified to run an agency of that size. I'm sure all the candidates and or supporters read these comments so here is his opportunity to enlighten us. And yes, this is not only a decent question but a very relevant one. An no, its not my responsibility to find him to ask.

Check out www.carter08.com and you'll see that Brian Carter can't stay anywhere longer than 2 or 3 years. And you're right, "stjoeaccount," he's about 30 years old. So if anyone wants to talk about a lack of experience, Carter is the candidate to discuss.

Wow, I checked out Mr. Carters web site. Your right stjoeproud, he doesn't stay in one place very long. So I guess if he gets elected we'll be looking for a new sheriff when he quits after his first year or two. But in reality, I don't think we'll have to worry about him getting elected.

Where is "Camp Carter" now? No defense to that comment?