[David]

Q1: The current roster of deputies is not very diverse, but the county is very diverse. What is your vision for providing St. Mary's County with a diverse Sheriff's office? How do you plan to recruit for a diversified office and maintain those persons once hired? What incentives do you envision offering in order to get those officers?

Q2: How will you solve the steadily increasing drug problem?

Q3: In the event of an emergency situation where an evacuation was necessary, how would you handle it?

Q4: How will accreditation accomplish what you say it will? What direct benefits will acrue to the citizens of the county?

Q5: Directed to K. Somerville only: What things would you differently as Sheriff were you elected?

Q6: In the absence of a generator powered commercial radio, how will you notify citizens when an evacuation becomes necessary during a power failure.

Q7: Directed to K. Somerville only: Would you want a "union" in the Sheriff's department?

Q8: Can there be something done about overcrowding at the detention center? What is your position on the building of a new jail? Would you include space for treatment of substance abuse persons?

Q9: There is alot of mistrust between citizens and the Sheriff's office. Mistrust seems to stem from drug activity and officer response to citizens in different areas. How do you envision regaining citizen's trust?

Background: St. Mary's County boasts the oldest Sheriff's Office in Maryland and possibly the oldest in the nation. The Sheriff serves a four-year term.

Note: The questions were submitted by members of the audience and selected by the LWV staff. In some cases, more than one question was consolidated into a single topic for the candidates. Since the questions are framed by the audience, some things may be implied that are not necessarily true.