KERNS, BURROWS CHALLENGE AMARANTO FOR PITTSBURG COUNTY SHERIFF'S POST

Three Democratic candidates for Pittsburg County sheriff will be on
the ballot for Tuesday's primary election, vying for the right to face
Republican candidate Bruce McGuire on Nov. 2.

Incumbent Pittsburg County Sheriff Jerome "Snookie" Amaranto is facing
a challenge from two fellow Democrats, Joel Kerns and Steve Burrows.

Amaranto, who lives in the Savanna area, first won election to the
office in 2000. He's seeking his second term. Amaranto said he's kept
a pledge to the voters to be a working sheriff.

"I've participated in approximately 90 percent of all search
warrants," Amaranto said, referring to search warrants conducted
through the sheriff's department as well as the District 18 Narcotics
Task Force.

The sheriff says he can work with the budget the county commissioners
provides. He has increased employees in the sheriff's department by
housing inmates waiting to be transferred to the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections and serving court papers.

The sheriff said his office responds to all calls.

"All calls are important," he said.

Amaranto began his career in law enforcement in 1968 as a correctional
officer at Oklahoma State Penitentiary before becoming a jailer at the
Pittsburg County Jail in 1973. He served as undersheriff for two
previous sheriffs.

Talking about the problem with drugs in Pittsburg County, Amaranto
said "drug dealers, we'll keep kicking their doors in."

Joel Kerns, a former deputy for Amaranto, contends he can do more for
the people of Pittsburg County. While with the sheriff's department,
Kerns worked as a livestock investigator, as well as drug, theft and
child abuse cases.

"I have some new, fresh ideas I want to carry into our department,"
Kerns said. He wants to return the Drug Awareness Resistance
Education, or DARE, program to public schools to education children on
the dangers of drugs.

He said he also wants to return the county reserve deputy program to
the county.

Kerns said work is under way on a drug court, which could help relieve
overcrowding at the jail.

He said he will not allow any kind of brutality to suspects or
inmates. Kerns has also worked as a correctional officer.

Burrows previously served as the Pittsburg County sheriff after being
appointed to the post in 1999 by the Pittsburg County commissioners to
fill the unexpired term of Bennie Durant, who retired in mid-term.

Burrows lost the 2000 election, but expressed confidence that it was
close enough that he was ready to try again.

He's noted that he has more than 20 years of managerial experience
which will serve him well as sheriff.

Burrows plans to establish a new data base to more closely monitor
thefts and help in replacing stolen goods to the rightful owners.

During a recent meeting of the Pittsburg County Democrat Club, he
asked those present to consider which of the three candidates they
would rather have respond to a call for help.

McGuire, the GOP candidate, does not have a primary opponent in the
sheriff's race.