E W Viar Jr.
Jeff Rowe
Happy Birthday
NOTICE OF MEETING:
Thursday June 18 at 6 PM
Madison Heights Library Community Room
CANDIDATES NIGHT!
Come and meet the candidates:
For Supervisor District 1 -Kenneth Campbell,
ACVDN ENDORSES
For Amherst Circuit Court Clerk -Deborah Coffey Mozingo.
Debora Mozingo is FULLY Qualified and has a plan for Amherst Counties future that protects our rich past and fragile documents. Amherst Democratic News is proud to endorse Debora Coffey Mozingo. Deborah started at the bottom in the clerks office and has 32 years of experience in every facet of the job. Amherst Democratic News recommends a vote for Debora Coffey Mozingo.
Roy C. Mayo, 111 also Endorses Debora Coffey Mozingo.
DEBORAH COFFEY MOZINGO
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
ANHERST CIRCUIT COURT
My name is Deborah Coffey Mozingo and I am running for the Clerk of the Court in Amherst County, a job that requires a great deal of hard work, responsibilities, dedication and time. I am a life long resident of Amherst County and for the last 32 years have been a Deputy Clerk of the Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. I have made my career energetically serving the citizens of Amherst County and am both excited and enthusiastic about the potentials of the office.
For several years I have held the position of Chief Deputy Clerk. I started out at the entry level position, working up thru the system to my current position. I have trained and worked under two different Clerks during my career, gaining the experience that has allowed me to work in all phases of the job requirements of the County Clerk. The Clerk has numerous responsibilities that include Financial Management, Case Management, Civil and Criminal, all types of Accounting duties, budgeting, payroll and many other duties such as issuing marriage licenses to probating wills.
My goal as Clerk is to assist the public in a friendly and helpful manner. I plan to continue working on bringing our Clerk's Office up to standard with other Clerk's Offices this size, continue working on upgrading the Supreme Court Case Management System that will allow the scanning and electronic filing of documents with other state agencies. As funds allow, either through the Budget or the use of Grants, I would like to expand the website to the public, pursue paperless filing of both Criminal and Civil cases, set-up e-filing for Attorneys and obtain Grants to preserve the old records and purge the old Deed Books all of which will make the system more user friendly.
I have known both the new Commonwealth Attorney and new Judge for many years, both socially and professionally and look forward to working with them in their new roles.
I am most grateful for the support I have received from citizens of this county over the years. I now ask for your vote and support of my candidacy for the position of County Clerk and with your help, I look forward to continuing my service to the County as County Clerk.
Roy C. Mayo, 111 also Endorses Debora Coffey Mozingo.
Share your concerns, and learn how they plan to help the citizens of Amherst County. We will talk about the real issues that affect our lives.
Refreshments will be available.
Ned Kable, Chair: Amherst County Democratic Committee
Happy Birthday
Sheriff L.J. “Jimmy” Ayers III - Retiring at years end.
After spending the last 30 years serving Amherst County, Sheriff L.J. “Jimmy” Ayers III said it’s the people he will miss the most when he retires at the end of this year. Jimmy attends many of the local events and he can rest assured the people will miss him also. There is no reason the
former Sheriff can't continue to make the local events and that's what we hope he will do.
A day after announcing his planned departure Jimmy revealed, “Since yesterday, the phone calls, text messages and emails … you know, it’s somewhat
overwhelming, but people have been my life … but if anything that I will miss, it would be the people.”
Ayers surprised many last Thursday when he announced his plans to not seek another term as sheriff. But he paved his departure with gratitude and the endorsement of Investigator E.W. Viar Jr., who now is one of three candidates who have filed to seek the office as of Monday.
December will mark the end of Ayers’ fifth term and will count as 30 years and two months with the sheriff’s office.
“On November 7, 1995, I was humbled when the citizens of this county elected me as their sheriff,” Ayers said in his Thursday press release. “…I was tossed into another world that I would not have been able to survive without the help and support of my staff and the citizens of this county.”
Ayers, who first joined the office as a corrections officer in 1985 at age 22, announced the decision first to his staff in a Thursday morning meeting. He said as he leaves, he has no regrets and will be leaving the office with a “fine team of men and women dedicated and committed to serve this county.”
“Thirty years in a law enforcement profession … it’s a long time,” Ayers said. “Especially for the last 20 years as sheriff, it’s your life.”
His 30 years of service have gone by in a flash, said Ayers, a native of Amherst, but he feels he has fulfilled his obligation to residents and attributed his successes to his fellow staff, past and present.
During Thursday’s announcement, Ayers told his co-workers that the reason he is retiring can be attributed to politics.
“The political end of it I despise, I hate it,” Ayers said. “I’ve thought about it the last week and a half, two weeks, opposition came up, and that is it. Looking at everything… I just didn’t want to deal with the political end of an election again.”
Until someone goes through an election, he said, they just do not know how much of an extra job and additional stress it is.
In 2008, Ayers underwent a quadruple-bypass heart surgery two days after feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder and discovering he had four major blockages in his heart.
“The heart surgeon, he talked to me about stress, you know, every aspect of every part of that,” Ayers said. “And I’ve never been a drinker, I’ve never been a smoker, if I had an addiction it was probably somewhat to eating and to work, because I work constantly.”
And as far as future plans are concerned, once retirement kicks in, Ayers said that he has none, though he has been asked by quite a few people.
“Everybody thinks that I’ve got a cat in the bag,” Ayers said. “No, I will fulfill my obligation here through the end of the year and in January, if the good Lord has a plan for me, I hope he will have me on the path at that time. If not, I’ll take it a day at a time.”
As Ayers’ final term winds down, three candidates already said they will seek the position in the November election — Viar, retired Amherst Police Officer Jeff Rowe and Lt. Stevie Angus of the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office.
In a news release, Viar said he decided to run in this year’s election after conferring with Ayers.
“I had always promised Sheriff Ayers I would not run against him in an election,” Viar said in the release. “After he approached me with the news of his December retirement, and with his support, I plan to seek to replace him as Amherst County’s Sheriff.”
Viar, like Turner, said he also was shocked when he heard that Ayers planned to retire.
“I understand it, I know he’s worked hard,” Viar said. “This man has given it 24/7 as sheriff, 20 years — I know.”
Viar recounted one night when he was out on call until after 4 a.m. and Ayers called to check in and see how things were going.
“I said, ‘Man, do you ever sleep?’” Viar recalled. “And I know, as a deputy that works here, and we all do, that he didn’t. He listened to the radio, he listened to everything all the time. I’ll miss that.
“The man’s been a good all-around person, I mean, the man really cares about his community and where he lives and is very outspoken about his community. He has deep ties to his community.”
If elected, Viar said he would like to continue working toward getting the force accredited, both on a state and national level. Viar said that this is something that Ayers initiated and that he would like to continue.
As he prepares to leave, Ayers voiced support for Viar, while also calling Rowe’s platform “20 years of animosity and a vindictive desire fueled by disgruntled individuals.”
Rowe’s response to that statement was simply, “It’s not true.
“I’m not a vengeful person and I never will be; I was not brought up that way,” Rowe said. “Why he would say that? I don’t know, except it’s an election.”
In a later interview, Ayers said he wishes Rowe well and the utmost success in his campaign, just as he does for Viar.
“I wish neither of the candidates any ill will at all,” Ayers said. At that time, Angus had not yet filed to run. “At the end of the day, may the best man win.”
Ayers said that what he wanted to convey was that, no matter who the candidate is, always check their platform and what they stand for.
Rowe said one aspect that drives his desire to run is the “need [for] a change here in Amherst County.”
One of his goals, should he win the sheriff’s seat, would be to increase patrol visibility in the county and ensure that U.S. 29 is not the only place being watched by Amherst’s officers, because “being seen deters crime.”
Another pursuit of Rowe’s would be a more watchful eye out for texting and driving. He said that while a lot of kids hear about this problem, he would like to have law enforcement go into schools and teach students about it.
“It’s a pet peeve of mine,” Rowe said. “...You can’t take your eyes off the road.”
On a more personal level, Rowe said he wants to encourage the Sheriff’s Office to be like a big family — that all law enforcement agencies are part of a team effort, from the federal level down to the local level.
“If one person takes the credit, it’s not a team,” Rowe said. “It’s about team effort.”
The most recent candidate to put his name in the race is Angus, who said he has worked at the sheriff’s office for close to 26 years but never ran before this point out of respect for Ayers.
Before his time in Amherst, Angus served in the Army, National Guard and at a maximum-security prison.
“I’ve always served in some kind of way,” Angus said. “Community … and country. ”One of Angus’ interests if he wins the seat is creating a “Bill of Rights” for deputies, who he said “don’t have a lot of protections.”
Officers have no job security, Angus said, and their jobs are in jeopardy every four years. When a new sheriff comes in, he has “the power to let you go,” Angus said.
Angus also would like to see a new emphasis property crimes and crimes against people.
NOTICE OF MEETING:
Thursday June 18 at 6 PM
Madison Heights Library Community Room
CANDIDATES NIGHT!
Come and meet the candidates:
For Supervisor District 1 -Kenneth Campbell,
For Amherst Circuit Court Clerk -Deborah Mozingo.
For Amherst County Sheriff, -Jeff Rowe..
and others..
Share your concerns, and learn how they plan to help the citizens of Amherst County. We will talk about the real issues that affect our lives.
Refreshments will be available.
Ned Kable, Chair: Amherst County Democratic Committee
Thank YOU JIMMY, Terrific Job, Well Done
Sheriff L.J.Ayers III, better known to the citizens of Amherst County as "Jimmy", was sworn in as Sheriff on January 1st, 1996. Sheriff Ayers has built his administration with a strong emphasis on integrity and community service. He has shown over the past several years that he holds his deputies to the same standards he holds himself to.
Demonstrating his strong commitment to the citizens of Amherst County, Sheriff Ayers has implemented several programs to address community issues and concerns. In 1999 using grant money he instituted the School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the High School. Since then this program has grown to include an SRO in each of the two middle schools and the alternative school. In 1997, by the creation of the Crime Prevention Unit, Sheriff Ayers has offered the citizens of Amherst tips on how not to become a victim and how to make their homes and businesses crime resistant. In 2000, Sheriff Ayers saw a burgeoning need to supplement the volunteer rescue squad system and help in its preservation.
A native of Amherst County, Sheriff Ayers has dedicated his life to making it a safer and better place for all to live. Joining the Sheriff's Office in 1985 he started as a corrections officer in the "old jail"'. Over the next ten years he worked his way up to Field Operations Sergeant, deciding in 1995 to run for Sheriff.
Sheriff Ayers' commitment to the community also extends to his personal life. He is a member of the Madison Height Lions Club, Amherst/Monroe Ruritan Club, and AF & AM Clinton Lodge #73. He and his family are members of Madison Heights Baptist Church. Sheriff Ayers and his family have been known to attend many other churches and community events including homecomings, revivals, and funerals.
Since taking office Sheriff Ayers has striven to bring the Sheriff's Office into the 21st century by implementing programs and services that benefit every citizen. Many of these programs where instituted and sustained utilizing both state and federal grants and local donations. Some of these programs are:
K-9 Unit - Currently consisting of four dogs trained in narcotics detection, tracking, and patrol operations.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Program - Provides specially trained deputies in the high school, both middle schools, and the alternative school.
Tactical Unit - Provides specially trained deputies to serve search warrants and intervene in high risk situations.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - Provides specially trained deputies to 1st respond to medical emergencies, supplementing the counties paid and volunteer system.
DARE (Drug Abuse Response Education) - Provides the drug awareness program in each of the counties eight elementary schools.
Crime Prevention Unit
We Care- A program where the dispatchers contact at-risk senior citizens by phone daily.
Neighborhood Watch- Neighbors watching out for neighbors and reporting unusual behavior or incidents.
Triad- Police chiefs, Sheriffs and citizens working together towards the safety of senior citizens
Citizen and Youth Police Academy- An introduction to law enforcement offered in the summers.
Project Lifesaver- A program designed to assist in locating missing Alzheimer's patients and other at risk residents.
Explorer Post 930- In cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America open to all Amherst County high school age teens offering law enforcement training and out door excursions.
Narcotics Unit - A specialized unit that falls under the Investigations Division and enforces street level criminal interdiction that includes drug enforcement.
Computer Crimes Unit - A division of the investigation unit charged with the responsibility of investigating computer related crimes.
Amherst Democratic News
ACVDN
Demonstrating his strong commitment to the citizens of Amherst County, Sheriff Ayers has implemented several programs to address community issues and concerns. In 1999 using grant money he instituted the School Resource Officer (SRO) program in the High School. Since then this program has grown to include an SRO in each of the two middle schools and the alternative school. In 1997, by the creation of the Crime Prevention Unit, Sheriff Ayers has offered the citizens of Amherst tips on how not to become a victim and how to make their homes and businesses crime resistant. In 2000, Sheriff Ayers saw a burgeoning need to supplement the volunteer rescue squad system and help in its preservation.
A native of Amherst County, Sheriff Ayers has dedicated his life to making it a safer and better place for all to live. Joining the Sheriff's Office in 1985 he started as a corrections officer in the "old jail"'. Over the next ten years he worked his way up to Field Operations Sergeant, deciding in 1995 to run for Sheriff.
Sheriff Ayers' commitment to the community also extends to his personal life. He is a member of the Madison Height Lions Club, Amherst/Monroe Ruritan Club, and AF & AM Clinton Lodge #73. He and his family are members of Madison Heights Baptist Church. Sheriff Ayers and his family have been known to attend many other churches and community events including homecomings, revivals, and funerals.
Since taking office Sheriff Ayers has striven to bring the Sheriff's Office into the 21st century by implementing programs and services that benefit every citizen. Many of these programs where instituted and sustained utilizing both state and federal grants and local donations. Some of these programs are:
K-9 Unit - Currently consisting of four dogs trained in narcotics detection, tracking, and patrol operations.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Program - Provides specially trained deputies in the high school, both middle schools, and the alternative school.
Tactical Unit - Provides specially trained deputies to serve search warrants and intervene in high risk situations.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) - Provides specially trained deputies to 1st respond to medical emergencies, supplementing the counties paid and volunteer system.
DARE (Drug Abuse Response Education) - Provides the drug awareness program in each of the counties eight elementary schools.
Crime Prevention Unit
We Care- A program where the dispatchers contact at-risk senior citizens by phone daily.
Neighborhood Watch- Neighbors watching out for neighbors and reporting unusual behavior or incidents.
Triad- Police chiefs, Sheriffs and citizens working together towards the safety of senior citizens
Citizen and Youth Police Academy- An introduction to law enforcement offered in the summers.
Project Lifesaver- A program designed to assist in locating missing Alzheimer's patients and other at risk residents.
Explorer Post 930- In cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America open to all Amherst County high school age teens offering law enforcement training and out door excursions.
Narcotics Unit - A specialized unit that falls under the Investigations Division and enforces street level criminal interdiction that includes drug enforcement.
Computer Crimes Unit - A division of the investigation unit charged with the responsibility of investigating computer related crimes.
Amherst Democratic News
ACVDN
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