Recent Roanoke County Sheriff appointee Mike Winston is looking to make a place he has called “home” for almost 40 years stay that that way. In order to continue as sheriff, Winston will have to emerge victorious in a November 2nd special election to fill the vacancy left by former sheriff Gerald Holt, who retired and then was appointed as US Marshal for Western Virginia. The Sheriff’s race has already seen the field of candidates lose its Republican hopeful, Steve Turner, who dropped out shortly after announcing his intention to run.
Mike Stovall is running as an independent against Winston, who stepped in for Holt. “I’m hopeful that when Roanoke County voters decide who deserves their vote that they will look at my record, both personally and in law enforcement during my four decades with the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office,” said Winston. “The people of Roanoke County deserve someone who has a proven record of administrative and budget experience and will intelligently use their tax dollars to run a successful sheriff’s office.”
Winston’s career in law enforcement began at Virginia Western Community College. He went on to complete his studies at Radford University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s, as well as teaching there as part of the adjunct Criminal Justice faculty.
Winston served as Holt’s second in command for nearly two decades, and many supporters give him credit for creating the first SWAT team in Southwest Virginia, a program that Roanoke County Police Department still uses today. Winston was also the first certified range instructor in the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office. “I have served at every level of this sheriff’s office,” said Winston. “Our correctional facility is [ranked] 98th out of 4,000 local jails to receive national accreditation. [That’s] an honor we have all worked very hard to earn and maintain.”
The interim sheriff has taken exception to at least one of Stovall’s claims: “Mr. Stovall [profiled recently in the Star-Sentinel] has made the inmate work program one of his main campaign points. I would just like to remind him that both of our inmate work programs have been operating at full force. Our Weekender Work Program is funded by a state grant and the Community Inmate Workforce is funded by budget savings from the 2009-2010 fiscal year. You may have seen our inmate work crews weed whacking and cleaning up on major county roads and highways.”
Both candidates have begun to actively campaign and seek endorsements from local advocacy groups. In many neighborhoods yard signs supporting either Winston or Stovall, a former police officer, are prolific and growing in number. Winston will find out if he still has the job he inherited on November 2.
By Tommy Jordan [email protected]