Sheriff’s Candidates Square off at Forum

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — With just 8 weeks left before the May 24 Republican Primary, Dawson County residents had another opportunity to evaluate the candidates for sheriff during Tuesday night’s forum at Dawson County Middle School.
The four — Jeff Johnson, Tony Wooten, Jeff Perry and Frank Sosebee — are all veteran law enforcement officers with many years experience. Sheriff Billy Carlisle has announced that he will retire at the end of the year, following 18 years as the county’s top cop.
Candidates agreed on many issues, like the importance of retaining good officers, community policing and fiscal responsibility.
Asked to cite their top priorities as sheriff, Johnson pointed to the need to prevent the flow of drugs into Dawson County. Sosebee said retention of good officers is critical. Perry said the next sheriff will have to address a staff shortage and Wooten cited crime prevention and pointed out that the county burglary rate had dropped by 36 percent in three years.
Sosebee, Perry and Johnson also agreed with a bill passed in the Georia legislature this year that would prevent civil forfeiture of property until after a suspect has been convicted of a crime. Wooten disagreed stating there is a strong system in place to protect the property of those who are found not guilty. “