{"id":31673,"date":"2022-05-12T17:40:38","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T17:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=31673"},"modified":"2022-05-12T17:40:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T17:40:38","slug":"meet-the-candidates-in-the-fayette-county-sheriffs-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2022\/05\/12\/meet-the-candidates-in-the-fayette-county-sheriffs-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the candidates in the Fayette County sheriff\u2019s race"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In campaigning for re-election, Fayette County Sheriff Kathy Witt<\/a> points to her lengthy experience in the job as a big reason voters should support her again. <\/p>\n

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But her opponent, Thomas \u201cTucker\u201d Bulleit<\/a> says her tenure does a disservice to the office.<\/p>\n

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Witt <\/a>was first elected as the sheriff in 1998 after her predecessor, Harold Buchignani, retired. She has served as sheriff ever since. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so proud of so many things our office has done,\u201d Witt said. \u201cI\u2019m just part of that team but I am really proud of their work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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On the flip side, Bulleit believes that with Witt\u2019s long tenure, her resume should be stronger. He said the department has fallen behind due to her management style, and he\u2019s the candidate to get it back on track.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe effectiveness of the office has dropped, and this is all reflected upon the inefficient use of your tax dollars,\u201d Bulleit said. \u201cI am an individual that actually wants to make a difference in his community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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During her 24-year tenure as sheriff, Witt said she has started several programs and initiatives in an attempt to better the community.<\/p>\n

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One that she\u2019s most proud of is the Amanda Center<\/a>, a 24-hour point of contact for domestic violence victims.<\/p>\n

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The Amanda Center opened in 2012, but it\u2019s since grown to serve victims of all crimes. Witt said the program has won multiple national and international awards. The program has since grown and now serves victims of crimes. <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of … families come to Amanda Center because they didn\u2019t know where else to go,\u201d Witt said.<\/p>\n

Witt has also added body cameras on all deputies, a K9 unit with an explosive detection dog, mobile data computers in all vehicles and collected over $400 million dollars per year in property tax while never reporting a negative finding, she said.<\/p>\n

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She has spent 39 years working in the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n

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This is Bulleit\u2019s first time running for office and he has spent most of his adult life working for Bulleit Land and Cattle in Paris, where he manages 320 head of cattle and 500 acres of soybeans and non-GMO corn. He also worked as an intern for a Lexington federal judge from 2008 to 2009.<\/p>\n

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Bulleit decided to run for sheriff over a year ago. He earned a graduate certificate from Boston University\u2019s Masters of Criminal Justice program, according to Bulleit\u2019s campaign website.<\/p>\n

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If elected, one of Bulleit\u2019s main objectives is to dedicate more money for the deputies. He said he conducted a survey of the office that revealed morale across the office was low.<\/p>\n

Bulleit said he wants to be an advocate for the voice of individuals doing the frontline work in the office.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTo this day, deputies still haven\u2019t seen a dollar from the 2021 distribution of $361,000 from the city,\u201d Bulleit said.<\/p>\n

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Witt said one of her big missions is to address officer wellness. <\/p>\n

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She wants to make sure that deputies are fit for their job physically, mentally and emotionally. <\/p>\n

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\u201cThey can\u2019t serve at their best if inside they\u2019re not well,\u201d Witt said. <\/p>\n

Witt also said she wants to use a youth engagement grant from the Department of Juvenile Justice to start a program to engage with troubled juveniles in Fayette County. <\/p>\n

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\u201cI am committed,\u201d Witt said. \u201cI think that my walk has matched my talk, and I think that this community trusts me and I think they count on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Both Witt and Bulleit are registered as Democrats. The winner of the primary will face Christopher Holliday, the only Republican who has filed to run for Fayette County sheriff.<\/p>\n

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The campaign has caused some controversy after Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said Bulleit had used Gorton\u2019s picture on a recent campaign advertisement<\/a> without her permission. <\/p>\n

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Bulleit sent a mailer to residents that included a photo of Bulleit and Gorton together. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn my 19 years in politics I have never endorsed any candidate for office. I have always remained a non-partisan, independent voice for Lexington,\u201d Gorton said. \u201cAlthough my picture has been used without my permission in a recent campaign mailer, I have not endorsed any candidate in the May 17th primaries and do not intend to.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Bulleit said he is new to politics and made a mistake by including the photo with Gorton.<\/p>\n

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Kathy Witt<\/h3>\n

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Work experience:<\/b> Fayette County sheriff since 1998, has spent her entire career with the sheriff\u2019s office since 1985.<\/p>\n

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Offices held:<\/b> Currently the Fayette County sheriff, the Federal Bureau of Investigation CJIS Advisory Policy Board chair and the Federal Bureau of Investigation CJIS Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Task Force chair.<\/p>\n

Family:<\/b> Has two children, Morgan and Lucas, and three grandchildren. Husband, Elmer, is a retired firefighter.<\/p>\n

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Tucker Bulleit<\/h3>\n

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Work experience:<\/b> Operations manager at Bulleit Land and Cattle, previously an intern for a Lexington federal judge.<\/p>\n

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Offices held:<\/b> First time running for office.<\/p>\n

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Family:<\/b> Single.<\/p>\n

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\n Chris Leach is a breaking news reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the newspaper in September 2021 after previously working with the Anderson News and the Cats Pause. Chris graduated from UK in December 2018.<\/span>
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