WATCH: Interviews with candidates running for Houston sheriff

We sat down with all five candidates for Houston County sheriff to discuss key issues as the 2024 election approaches.

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — After more than five decades, Houston County will have a new sheriff this year. When Cullen Talton announced his retirement last year, several of his current and former employees decided to come forward.

The four Republican candidates will face off in the May primaries for the chance to take on lone Democratic candidate Arthur Harris.

We gave everyone the opportunity to answer the same questions. Here is the first:

Listening Lab participants told us that crime was a top priority for them. If elected, what is your plan to fight crime in Houston County?

Jimmy Dunn: “We need to look at our numbers and the number of patrol officers we have. How many people are on the ground every day, our investigation team. You know, what is the cause of this crime? The root of the problem, and I’ll be the first to say it, I’m not afraid to say that I’m a Christian, so I know that what has been removed from homes, from schools, from courthouses is the Word of God. When we take that away, it’s our number one crime problem.

William Kendall: “As district attorney, I’ve done some pretty proactive things from the district attorney’s office with the county gang task force and the county drug task force. It produced results. I would continue these things as sheriff. I would certainly be proactive in fighting gangs, which has to do with our serious juvenile violent crimes, but also drug dealers, people who are peddling poison that is killing our people in Houston County.

Matt Moulton: “If a criminal is walking down Watson Boulevard, looking for an opportunity to commit a crime, and he sees blue lights flashing every 500 yards, he will have a subconscious mindset that tells him there’s nothing I can do .I’m going home for tonight Instead of going out and driving around Watson Boulevard without seeing a patrol car in sight for 2-3 hours, this opens the door for them to swoop in and start committing crimes of opportunity. .

Slate Simons: “How are we going to be proactive? We must circulate at night in our neighborhoods and in our businesses. That’s going to be coupled with the fact that in the citizen academy, you’ll be able to do everything from come to us and we’ll help you set up a neighborhood watch program to becoming a deputy sheriff. But if we can just communicate with citizens, guess what? There are actually citizens who sit in their neighborhood at night and say hello – there is a white Toyota Camry and some subjects walk around with hoodies that they pull over the door handles. If we can make that connection and we have that relationship, then they take a more proactive approach, because we need help. And we must be humble enough to admit it.

To learn more about each of the candidates, including Democrat Arthur Harris, watch the full videos below.