SHERIFF-ELECT PUTS DRUGS AT TOP OF PRIORITY LIST

Sheriff-elect Grover Smith may be half a year from taking office, but he
knew during his campaign what issues he most wanted to face if elected.

Throughout the campaign, Smith spoke of battling drugs in the county. He
said he wants the sheriff's office to take an active role in educating
young people about the dangers of drug use. To meet that goal, he said he
wants the department to take a more active role in the schools.

"My number one priority is to try different things to fight the county's
drug problem," he said. "I feel that the school resource officer is a
wonderful thing that can help educate and protect students. Fighting drugs
has to start by educating our children at a younger age."

Education will not be the only means of fighting drugs, according to Smith.
He said he plans to go on campus to fight drugs.

"We will have a greater presence on campuses. Drug dogs will be seen on
school campuses on a regular basis. We have a tremendous superintendent in
Buck Powell and I have a good relationship with the (Brewton) city school
board. I think we can work together to solve this problem," he said.

Smith said his attitude toward drugs was deepened while working for the
Escambia County District Attorney's office.

"In my years of working with the district attorney's office I saw what
drugs were doing to the victims and their families - everybody pays. That's
the reason I ran for sheriff; I want to make a difference," he said.

In addition to battling drugs, Smith said he wants to make the sheriff's
office as accommodating as possible for county citizens.

"When I take office I want every mother and father to know they can call
the sheriff's office," he said. "When they have a problem the first thing
to enter their mind should be to call the sheriff's office."

Smith feels the sheriff's office is already rich in quality personnel that
will help him reach that goal.

"Sheriff Hawsey has tremendous personnel," he said. "I will do whatever it
takes to make them available to citizens. If somebody calls the sheriff's
office there will somebody there to help them. That is what I ran on and
that is what I promised people."