By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

Editor’s Note: “Meet the Candidates” will be a regular feature informing you about our local candidates leading up to the November general election.

This week’s featured candidates are seeking the local office of Franklin County Sheriff, an office that is currently held current sheriff and Democratic candidate Shannon Oliver, who Republican candidate John Cantrell.

>Why are you running for this office? What made you decide to run?

Shannon Oliver: I have served you as your sheriff for almost four years and want to continue working for the people of Franklin County and continue to try to make the county a safer place to live. The reason I decided to run again was that during the last few years, we have made some changes in the office that I believe have helped the citizens and it seems that we have only started and there is more to be done.

John Cantrell: For several years now it seems to me that the reward of committing crimes has become greater than the risk. Non-violent offenders are given numerous opportunities to be rehabilitated without jail or confinement. I feel it’s time for a change in our local law enforcement. We need new leadership that will bring new ideas and positive revision to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

>Why do you think this particular position is important?

Shannon Oliver: To me, the office of sheriff is very important because of the duties that the sheriff has, such as protecting the citizens, responding to calls, carrying out the service of civil documents and court orders and maintaining a secure jail. The sheriff is here to make sure the county is a safe, secure place for the people to live and work, and I take that very seriously.

John Cantrell: The sheriff’s office serves a vital role for the citizens in our county. First and foremost, the sheriff’s office is responsible for the protection and safety of the people and their property. The sheriff serves as the chief law enforcement official for the county. There are numerous responsibilities of the sheriff’s office. They include but are not limited to: protection of constitutional and civil rights, traffic safety, warrant execution, sex offenders, evictions, enforcement of state laws, and civil service process. Perhaps two of the most important factors are maintaining the custody and control of inmates and the appointment of deputies to carry out the roles of the sheriff’s office.

> Why do you think you are the most qualified for this position?

Shannon Oliver: I have served the citizens of Franklin County for 20 years in law enforcement and believe that this is what I was called to do. For the last 3½, I have served the county as YOUR sheriff and I believed that has given me the experience to do the job on a professional level because I have seen first-hand the way the office operates, I know the problems and the struggles the county faces, and I am working diligently to make changes and improvements to the office so that it is more efficient for the citizens.

John Cantrell: I possess nearly a decade of broad experience. I have worked in Alabama’s largest law enforcement agency, the Alabama Department of Corrections. I am familiar with the operations of the sheriff’s office from my time spent with the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office. I currently serve as the Investigator with Littleville Police Department. I will remain open minded, with the ability to adapt or evolve with our profession when necessary to better serve our community needs.

> What do you hope to accomplish if you’re elected?

Shannon Oliver: I hope to continue to build on what’s been started already since I have been sheriff. I want to continue to be very strict on the drug problem in the county because it seems to be a starting point for all the other crimes, such as burglaries, thefts, and in most cases assaults and domestic violence cases. That was exactly what I had in mind when we worked to establish the Franklin County Drug Unit, and this unit has been instrumental in cutting down on the drug problem here in Franklin County, and I believe this will continue. I also worked to strengthen the communication between the sheriff’s office and the citizens of this county by establishing a website for the sheriff’s office that has plenty of pertinent information, such as a list of sex offenders, a list of our most wanted suspects, a list of current inmates, information about the jail, and lots more. I also want to try to position the deputies in a way that will cut down on response time to the calls.

John Cantrell: Often the attitude perceived in law enforcement is, “We’re doing all we can do.” Financial restrictions and legislation passed by our local law makers point to this. I want to change the perception of Franklin County by being tough on repeat offenders and bringing the focus back to the victims of crime. Citizens of Franklin County deserve the best protection available and we as law enforcement officers should strive to provide the highest quality public service. I would like to see the sheriff’s office more involved in our schools and communities. I believe we are on a one-way path to fighting the war on drugs in our county. To arrest an offender is simply not enough. We need to concentrate on conviction and rehabilitation. By implementing crime prevention and drug awareness programs in our schools, we can fight to stop drug use before it starts and build a better relationship with our youth. I want to build a more effective sheriff’s office by leading by example as a working sheriff. I will work side by side with our deputies developing a new style of law enforcement in Franklin County – a proactive sheriff’s office that yields results. By becoming proactive rather than reactive to crime, we can actively prevent premature crime. I hope to instill confidence back in the public, so that we can assume the potential burdens of crime they may face.

> Brief biography:

Shannon Oliver: I grew up in the Tharptown community of Franklin County and graduated from Russellville High School. My parents are Silas and Annette Oliver, and I have been married to Tange Oliver for 17 years. We have three children, Johnna, 14, Sterlyn, 11, and Brannon, 8, and they attend Belgreen School.

John Cantrell: I grew up in the west end of the county in Hodges, Vina, and Red Bay. I am a graduate of Vina High School. My parents are Darla Cantrell and Kevin Skinner. My wife, Regina, and I reside in Russellville with our three children: Landon, 8, Xander, 3, and Freya, 5 months. We are members of First United Methodist Church in Russellville.

> Final thoughts:

Shannon Oliver: Being elected as YOUR sheriff has been an honor that I take very serious, and as I stated in my first campaign, I don’t want to be “A” sheriff I want to be “YOUR” sheriff – someone you can talk to if you need to and someone you can trust to do the job. I would like to ask you for your vote and support on Nov. 4.

John Cantrell: Education is an extremely important involvement in the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement is ever evolving, so it is mandatory that our employees never stop learning and training. It is equally important that as the chief law enforcement officer representing the county, I further my education to better serve the public. As a department we must remain active in our communities to assure that residents of Franklin County have the opportunity to remain informed as times change. I humbly ask for your vote this November. Let’s work together to take back our communities. I would like to add that this election is not necessarily about me, it’s about the future of Franklin County.