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 one of three candidates for District Attorney, 14^th District, covering Lincoln, Pike and Walthall counties; and one of six candidates for sheriff.

Incumbent DA Dewitt “Dee” Bates is retiring. Candidates Brendon Adams and Joe R. “Joey” Norton IV will face off in the Republican Primary. The winner of that primary will face Democrat candidate Patrick Earl Beasley in the General Election.

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 Beasley and Falvey are as follows:

 

Patrick Earl Beasley, DA 14

Beasley lives in Brookhaven and is chief assistant district attorney in the 22^nd Circuit Court District.

 

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?

As a former police officer, I firmly believe that our police officers, who put their lives on the line daily, have a right to expect that the prosecutors are both competent and committed to prosecuting cases and fighting for the rights of victims.  A prosecutor should be more concerned with advocating for the rights of victims and, not boasting about conviction rates. I plan to foster and build strong working relationships with law enforcement agencies throughout the district and gain their trust and confidence.

This district consists of three (3) counties: Lincoln, Pike, and Walthall. Each of these counties have a significant African American population; notwithstanding this fact, the current administration has not hired a prosecutor of color in over fifteen (15) years. This administration has consistently hired attorneys and staff members without openly advertising these positions.   If elected, I plan to advertise these positions, seeking prosecutors who are highly capable, passionate, and reflective of the diverse population we serve in the Fourteenth Judicial District.

Additionally, if elected, my office will partner with the local schools, churches, and civic organizations in the district. The first contact with the Office of the District Attorney should not be when a citizen is a victim of a crime or when one is charged with a crime.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

Positions of employment should be openly advertised. If elected District Attorney any position within this office will be made public knowledge.  Nepotism in the workforce should never be tolerated.

Hiring practices in public office should be based on principles of fairness and equity.

 

What are the most pressing issues in this office and how would you address them? Prioritizing the Conviction of Violent Offenses: Violent offenses committed in the district will be prioritized above all else.

Relationship with the Community: Being visible in our community at our schools and churches. Seeking to make preventative strides with our youth through speaking engagements, youth job shadowing opportunities and grants to bring programs dedicated to mental health and education as alternatives to incarceration among young offenders;

Relationship with Law Enforcement Agencies: Building trust and confidence with our officers again through open discussions, goal setting among agencies and expressions of gratitude;

Fairness and Equality: Advertising for positions and seeking those candidates who are intelligent, articulate, and capable of serving in this role with passion and integrity.

 

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

The voters should elect me because I am the most experienced candidate for the job and my resume is a testament to my hard work. I was raised in the housing projects of Carver Heights, in our town of Brookhaven, by a single mother. Despite these hardships I did not make excuses I put my nose to the grind and I pushed- I literally “pulled myself up by my bootstraps”.

The position of District Attorney is a very important office. You should not be elected because you are simply a “nice guy”.   I challenge each voter to pick your candidate based on his track record and experience. Nothing else! Not party affiliation, not whether you like him, or whether you are related to him. Ask yourself this one critical question: If you are a victim of a violent crime will it matter what political party your prosecutor belongs to? Will it matter whether you know him or even like him/her?

My experience is multi-faceted: I enlisted in the United States Army when I was seventeen years of age. I am a combat veteran, who actively participated in Operation Joint Endeavor; Operation Desert Storm; and Operation Enduring Freedom. During my tenure in both the active Army and Mississippi Army National Guard I have served as both a Non-Commissioned and Commissioned Officer. I have been responsible for the lives of hundreds of soldiers and equipment totaling into the millions.

I am the only candidate with actual law enforcement experience that spans over a decade. I have been a Deputy Sheriff, a State Police Officer, and a Military Police Officer. This prior experience will let me cultivate a better working relationship with our law enforcement agencies within the district.

I am also the only candidate that has simultaneously been a division head and a prosecutor with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. As the Director of Consumer Protection for the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, I was responsible for the supervision of twenty-two (22) employees, which included prosecutors, investigators, mediators and support staff.

I have prosecuted cases all over the State of Mississippi. Crimes ranging from home repair fraud to capital murder. I have been a prosecutor for nearly two decades. If I am elected, I will be able to take the helm from day one. Not only am I a prosecutor with an established track record, I also have experience in supervising and training prosecutors. The voters should elect me as District Attorney because I have dedicated my life to public service-not just in Lincoln County, but across this state and nation. Neither of my opponents can match my track record of dedication to this state or nation. I will be ready from day one. “NO ON THE JOB TRAINING REQUIRED”

 

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

I am the grandson of Julius and Blanche Dixon; my mother is Eadis Beasley, and my sister is Ramona Coleman. All are lifelong residents of Brookhaven. My son, Patrick is graduating high school this year and has enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard and is leaving for basic training in June of this year. He will serve the State of Mississippi as a Military Police Officer in the 114^th Military Police Company located in Clinton, Mississippi. I am a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been corrected to remove two lines included in error in responses submitted by Patrick Beasley. He did not provide a response to the question, “How would your role in this office improve Brookhaven and Lincoln County?” The answer published was “Electing me,” which was the beginning of a response from another candidate. We regret this error and are happy to set the record straight.

 

 

Leslie Falvey, Sheriff

Falvey lives in the Loyd Star community and is a farrier/blacksmith (shoeing horses), recently resigned from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office as an investigator.

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?

My assessment of the current occupant is that He is a good man, I worked for him for 10 years and he was good to me. As far as the question would I keep it in the same direction, NO. Would I change course, YES, although we do not need to reinvent the wheel. A course needs to be set and go in that direction. The current Sheriff has built a good department unfortunately it is just setting still. I feel the residents of Lincoln County is ready for a Sheriff to walk among the people, go where people are hurting, take time to listen to your people. It is time for a more proactive department.

 

How would you address transparency and accountability of this office?

I would implement a more informative social media page such as the one our neighbors to the south has, raw, real and current. Not only to keep the public informed but also to interact with the community, like a sounding board. When you get out and interact with the public face to face there is a certain amount of accountability that lies therein, be ready to give an account of your actions while interacting with them.

 

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

The most pressing issue would be personnel alignment, it needs to be based merit and work ethic not on length of employment. This is a morale killer and causes a stagnation that affects the service that the citizens of Lincoln County receives. I would like to work toward a testing and merit based promotion system. If a person works hard they should have a chance to move up the ladder, not be log jammed by someone that has been there longer with a poorer work ethic. This gives hope for employees to strive to do better, it increases their knowledge and hones their skills. This will put a better trained Deputy on the road. Rank structure should be enforced, with the right people in role as department heads and allow them to do their job. No more buddy system, no more retired in place.

 

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

I would make decisions based on what is best for the citizens not my friends or political aspiration. I would also utilize state and federal agencies to help combat drugs. This would benefit in two ways, it would help curtail drugs in our county and secondly it would free up personnel to patrol. We must be more proactive on enforcement not reactive. If you remain reactive at all times you will end up always staying one step behind versus being proactive where you have a good chance of staying one step ahead.

 

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

The reason for seeking this office is simple, I feel I have been called to do so. I have a burden for the people of Lincoln County, especially those without a voice or means to fight for themselves. I am not a respecter of men, we are all created equal and should be treated as such. All residents of Lincoln County should have the opportunity to live and work in peace without worrying about what riff raff is lurking around. This office should be held accountable to the people and serve and protect all people no matter where you live or what your financial status is. I want to make a difference. As far as why should voters elect me, because I am the best suited candidate for the job at hand. I have 10 years experience with the Sheriff’s office and the only candidate outside of the current Sheriff with a true working knowledge of the department. I have personally been there when people have lost loved ones, their privacy violated and belongings taken from their homes. I know what needs to be changed to provide a secure and peaceful future for the residents of Lincoln County. Times are changing and we must be prepared to address the future when it comes. I am the candidate with the communication skills to influence the criminal element. If you react to crime and lock one person up you have influenced one person but if you are proactive and they know you are “The Sheriff” and there is no tolerance for their actions you have influenced many. Therefore those wishing to commit bad acts will be looking for another county to do so in. When you operate in this manner people take notice, not only the criminal element but the investors that look at infrastructure before bringing in a business. I will have a working relationship with Brookhaven P.D. not only to assist as needed but also to help influence the criminal activity there also.

 

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

I am married to Shonnye Jo Anderson Falvey who is a nurse at Brookhaven Health and Wellness ( Beth Brown). We have two children Shoncye Delaughter and her husband Nick she is a bank teller at Pike National Bank and he is a lineman at Irby Construction. Our son Daniel Falvey has signed with the United States Marine Corps and will be leaving for Paris Island this spring. We have two grandsons Ty Brandt and Camden Frank Delaughter. We attend Church of The Way in Brookhaven. I am a Christian conservative rooted in scripture and strong belief in Jesus Christ. I am a graduate of Brookhaven Academy and attended Co-Lin CC before going to Texas State Horseshoeing School. I was self employed as a farrier for many years before hiring on with Brookhaven Police Department under Chief Pap Henderson. After a short stay I went to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office where I spent the last 10 years. I am a full time Certified Officer and also a Certified Investigator by Mississippi Department of Public Safety. I resigned my position as an Investigator at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in order run for the office of Sheriff, I have resumed shoeing horses full time.