Henry County’s top elected law enforcement officer has weighed in publicly on who he thinks should succeed him next year.

  A few months after announcing that he would not be seeking a fourth term, Sheriff Keith McBrayer released a statement May 3 regarding the 2020 race for sheriff, for which ten candidates have qualified. As one might expect, he has been asked frequently who he feels the next person to hold his office should be.

  While he did not say who he feels should win in November, he gave his opinion regarding each of the primaries. He stated that he felt the most qualified candidate in the Democratic primary is Reginald Scandrett, and the most qualified candidate in the Republican primary is Jack Redlinger.

  “A sheriff represents all of the people in a county,” he said. “You should not have to make a choice between Democrat or Republican in order to run for the office of sheriff. However, the law requires that a sheriff pick a political party in which to qualify.  I feel that all sheriffs in the state should be on a ballot as non-partisan, but we must follow the current law as it is written.”

  McBrayer emphasized the responsibility that the next sheriff will have by pointing out the size and scope of the department in his statement. He currently oversees a budget in excess of $30 million and directs a jail operation that has seen more than 13,000 people come through the booking process in the past year. A total of more than 340 employees serve the county under his leadership.

  “This is not a job for a novice,” he said. “They must know how a sheriff’s office operates. They must know the law. They must have excellent leadership skills, administrative experience, and most importantly, unquestionable character. Just because someone signs up to be on the ballot doesn’t mean they are qualified.”

  Whoever the voters choose in November will be Henry County’s third sheriff in four decades. Donald Chaffin occupied the office for 26 years, and McBrayer will have 12 years in office when his current term ends.

  “I have invested 45 years into this agency and our county,” said McBrayer, who started with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office shortly after high school. “This election is too important for me to sit on the sideline and not give my opinion.

  “Henry County’s next sheriff must serve with honor, integrity, and dignity.  Nothing else is acceptable.”