Sheriff's Debate Opens Local Campaign Season

The local political season kicked off Monday night with the sheriff's debate at the hosted by the Forsyth County Tea Party.

A standing-room-only crowd listened as the candidates -- three-term Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton and challengers and -- made five-minute opening statements then took turns answering questions from the audience posed by moderator Joe MacArthur, a local resident and volunteer with the Tea Party

Glen Dowell, who has filed a Declaration of Intent to Solicit Campaign Contributions but has not officially announced his campaign, did not participate.

McDonald, who owns in Cumming and who is a third-generation firefighter as well as the county coroner, said his public safety experience and business management qualifies him to be sheriff.

In his opening remarks, McDonald pledged to reduce the budget, increase the School Resource Officer (SRO) presence in the schools and increase pay for deputies.

"As your sheriff, I promise to reduce the budget, but not the service and the protection that should be provided to you," he said. He added that he would increase the SRO presence by redirecting drug seizure funds to that program. "With only seven SRO's working in our system, our students and teachers are vulnerable."

Paxton, who is in his third term as sheriff, said since he took office, crime in the county has declined significantly, and that deputies had access to modern technology never before seen in the county.

"We've been able with the economic downturn over the last 11 years to maintain a tremendous impact on crime in Forsyth County," he said. "We've been able to drive crime down."

He closed his opening remarks by saying, "I stand on my record. "I'm steadfastly proud of my record and what have done in Forsyth County and I look forward to continuing to serve you in this capacity."

Piper, who has a 25-year law enforcement background, directed his opening statement to the sheriff's office budget.

"The budget has got to be cut," he said. "But we cannot, we will not do that at the expense of the outstanding law enforcement the people of Forsyth County expect and deserve."

He pointed to neighboring Cherokee and Hall counties as examples of efficiently run county sheriff's offices.

"Both operate much larger agencies than we have," he said. "They have bigger jails already and they're doing it on millions of dollars less than we're doing it here in Forsyth County."

Paxton responded by saying that their budgets are different and are reported differently. "So, if you're going to go down that road, please understand the difference between fact and campaign rhetoric."

All three men said they would oppose the legalization of marijuana. Paxton and Piper questioned McDonald's law enforcement credentials and his ability to make life and death decisions.

He responded by saying that as a medic and a fireman, he had been to wrecks where he had to make a decision about which patient to rescue first.

Piper and McDonald questioned the sheriff on the need for a horse patrol. Paxton responded that the unit is comprised of four horses and cost less than $11,000 last year and that it has proved useful in parks and at special events and has a positive effect on community relations.

Piper challenged Paxton's claim that law enforcement had successfully reduced crime in Forsyth County.

The next political debate will be the 'Commissioners Candidates Debate' scheduled for Monday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the .

Forsyth County residents will have a chance to vote in the General Primary on July 31.