Each Lincoln County candidate who will appear on the Aug. 8 Primary Election ballot has been contacted by The Daily Leader and asked to reply to a questionnaire.

The same set of questions was sent to each candidate, even those who are running unopposed.

The responses are offered in no particular order, and no candidate had the opportunity to see any other candidate’s answers prior to submitting their own. No edits were made for content.

Each week, we will present responses from two candidates, along with reminders of who their opponents are.

This week we present the responses from two of the six candidates for Lincoln County Sheriff. Incumbent Sheriff Steve Rushing is running for another term. He will face challengers Kelly Porter and Troy Floyd in the Republican primary. The winner of that primary will face three independent candidates in the General Election — Willie J. “Meeka” Gayten Sr., Henry G. “Bub” Simmons Jr., and Leslie Falvey.

Previous articles can be found at www.dailyleader.com.

Responses from Rushing and Simmons are as follows:

 

Steve Rushing, Sheriff

Rushing lives in Brookhaven and is sheriff of Lincoln County.

How would you grade your success to this point in this office? Do you plan to keep things going in the same direction, or change course?

The people of Lincoln County saw fit to re-elect me four times to serve as their sheriff since 2006. I am humbled by this honor and believe it is indicative of the overall success of the sheriff’s office.

As your Lincoln County Sheriff, I have built and retained a professional, well-trained sheriff’s office; effectively managed a $4M annual budget and 60 employees; provided state-of-the-art equipment to better protect the public and our officers; remained current with evolving technological advances and strategies in addressing the ever-changing nature of crime; partnered with other local, state and federal agencies with our fight in the war on crime and drugs; maintained successful prosecution rates due to officer training and case integrity; partnered with Lincoln County School District to keep students and schools safe; implemented cohesive community anti-crime campaigns; and ensured officers are certified and have recurrent training.

If the people choose to re-elect me, I will continue moving Lincoln County forward in a positive direction by using past proven, effective methods while remaining adaptable to changing technologies and strategies and providing the best possible law enforcement services to our citizens.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

Transparency to the public is ensured through a daily release of information to the media including calls for service, crime incidents, traffic stops, and arrest dockets. In addition, we provide incident reports and body-camera video during investigations. Transparency is always the goal; however, to protect the integrity of a case and help keep the case intact for future court actions leading to a successful prosecution and conviction, it is not prudent to publicly share details about a new or on-going criminal investigation. Every comment, social media post, or article can potentially become part of a criminal case. In our current society there is a big demand for instant information, but the ultimate goal of a criminal investigation is to solve the case and see it through to a successful prosecution. In those instances, we share information with the public when appropriate.

Our law enforcement officers demonstrate accountability by working in a fair and unbiased manner with all members of the communities we serve while upholding the law and controlling crime. We promote responsible, professional policing measures and ensure officers are held accountable if they deviate from that standard.

 

What are the most pressing issues in this office and how would you address them?

The most pressing issues of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office are the ones we face every day which include various crimes and drugs. Our law enforcement officers address these issues by aggressively patrolling the Lincoln County area, using state-of-the-art equipment; remaining current with technologies; serving as county resource officers to protect students and schools; and keeping their certifications and training current.

We have very few open major cases and continue to partner with local, in-state, out-of-state, and federal agencies to actively solve crimes and pursue the necessary legal, admissible evidence that will support conviction in the court of law.

Law enforcement has changed throughout our nation since 2020 with the extended effects of COVID. Certainly, Lincoln County has not been immune to the nation-wide changes in crime prevention programs such as Neighborhood Watch, D.A.R.E., and Triad; however, we are adapting these programs to safely ensure a continuation of education and awareness throughout our county.

Moving forward, I plan to build on previous accomplishments through continued community engagement, partnerships, associations, and programs. Regardless of challenges we may face in the future, my goal is always to serve and protect the people of Lincoln County.

 

How would your role in this office improve Brookhaven and Lincoln County?

While serving as your Lincoln County Sheriff since 2006, we have worked together to make our county a safe community. We have built a reliable, dependable agency that is dedicated to serving all citizens with fairness, respect, and excellence. The stability of our office combined with my proven law enforcement leadership, in-depth knowledge of the law, education, and training are all key components that will allow me to continue the effective operations of the sheriff’s office while diligently fighting the war on crime and drugs and protecting our citizens.

The Brookhaven Police Department is the primary municipal law enforcement agency for the City of Brookhaven. As in the past, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assist and partner with the police department inside their jurisdiction whenever needed.

 

What are your reasons for seeking this office and why should voters elect you?

Lincoln County is my home. I have a heart to serve the people through law enforcement by working to provide a safe environment where our residents can live, work, and raise a family. The reasons I am seeking re-election as your Lincoln County Sheriff are the same reasons why I began a career in law enforcement with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in 1996–my life’s passion is to serve and protect the lives, property and rights of all citizens, maintain order, and provide law enforcement services which preserve the Constitutional Rights of our citizens while enforcing the law in a fair, effective, and unbiased manner. I take great pride in the men and women who serve the citizens of Lincoln County. Throughout our nation during the past two years, we have seen a mass exodus of law enforcement officers. Now, more than ever, we need to retain our dedicated, experienced law enforcement officers.

There is more work to be done and always will be. My 27 years of proven, dedicated, experienced law enforcement leadership, along with my training, education in criminal justice, accomplishments, extensive knowledge of the law, and Christian foundation will keep effective, professional law enforcement in Lincoln County.

 

Please share any family, personal information you’d like to include.

I have been married to Cassandra King Rushing for 29 years. Our children are son, Garrett and his wife Alex, and their son, Asher; son, Jayden; and daughter, Preslee. I am an active member and chairman of deacons at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church

I am a lifelong resident of Lincoln County and a graduate of West Lincoln School, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, and the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

I have served as Lincoln County Sheriff since 2006 and have over 27 years of law enforcement experience with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. I am a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute, NSI Jail Administration Course/FBI Academy in Quantico, MS Law Enforcement Training Academy, and the MS Law Enforcement Command College; am a member of the National Sheriff’s Association, MS Sheriff’s Association (MSA), FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for MS, MS Triad, and MS Crime Stoppers; have served as past two-term president of the MSA and past Sergeant-at-Arms for the National Sheriff’s Institute’s 96th; currently serve as MSA Legislative Committee chairman; and was appointed by the governor to the MS Department of Corrections Commission Selection Committee.

 

 

 

Henry ‘Bub’ Simmons, Sheriff

Simmons lives in the East Lincoln community and is a project manager for Petro Chemical and an Army/Army Reserve National Guard Infantry officer.

What is your assessment of the previous or current occupant of this office, and, if elected, would you keep it in the same direction or change course?

Criminal activity in Lincoln County continues to grow at an alarming rate … Unsolved Murders, Home and Business Burglaries and Illegal Drugs are the major problems facing Lincoln County residents.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

After meeting with field agent Walsh of the FBI, he informed me that he was more than willing to assist, but for the 12 years he has be attached to Lincoln County, he had not been requested by Our Sheriff to help.

 

What are the most pressing issues in this office and how would you address them?

My plan is to attack the cause of crime. It is well known that the majority of crime is drug related. It is a crime to possess, manufacture, sell and distribute illegal drugs … Chopping off the tail of the snake will not kill the snake … Arresting these same small dealers over and over is not the answer to stopping this in our area. The embedded long time drug lords will not continue to freely operate in our community. I am a firm believer in a strong multi-agency crime fighting approach.

The families that are involved with unsolved Murders and Missing persons deserve closure and justice. This will take high priority in my administration. These cases are certainly solvable. Leadership, Total transparency and accountability coupled with an extremely high and accurate line of communication will, in my opinion, prove very beneficial.

Brookhaven/Lincoln County in a recent survey rated #10 and in some areas rated as high as #4 as the most unsafe community to live in Mississippi. I believe you will agree, this is totally unacceptable.

 

How would your role in this office improve Brookhaven and Lincoln County?

I love Brookhaven/ Lincoln County and have spent my entire life here. I will devote 24/7 to reorganize, mentor and develop Our Sheriff’s Dept. Special attention, during this administration, will be placed on THE D.A.R.E. PROGRAM and NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. These are great tools in teaching and prevention. When confidential information is provided to us your privacy will be respected. We will be Accountable and Deliberate to enforce the Law against all who would cause you or your family harm or take anything from you that you have worked so hard to provide.

 

What are your reasons for seeking this office and why should voters elect you?

As a Military Officer and Civilian Project Manager, I have a record of success in Leadership and Management. Let me put this record to work for You.

Leadership without excuses! We will Protect and Serve You to a degree that is “Second to None ” … In God we Trust!

Change directions! VOTE FOR AND ELECT ” Henry “Bub ” Simmons as your next Sheriff … Our Children are Worth it!

 

Please share any family, personal information you’d like to include.

Married to Cris Simmons … Son of Evelyn/Gene Simmons … Brother to Tim Simmons and Angie Simmons McCardle and the late Cindy Simmons. Children: Chad Simmons, Emily Simmons Edmonds and Marci Simmons Watters …

Ordained Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Project Manager, Soldier, Cattle Farmer, Sportsman, Constitutional Rights Protection Patriot. “Our Children are our future”.