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Interview with Jeff Bryson
(updated 7/28/2010 2:26pm)
We would like to thank Jeff Bryson for giving us the time to ask him some questions and get a better feel
for why he thinks he should be the next Gaston County Sheriff. He wanted to emphasize that there have been
several rumors floating around that he doesn't like and he will have no part of. He said that neither he or his
staff start or participate in rumors. Mr Bryson said, "there is no truth to the rumors that I am going to fire
everybody (sheriff's staff) and replace them with city staff. Those are scare tatics and not true. I believe
you have to treat people with respect." He went on to say that there are a lot of good people in the Sheriff's
Department and he knows many of them.
LIG - Mr. Bryson, what made you decide to run for Sheriff of Gaston County?
Bryson - I used to run a gun shop and knew many of the people that worked in the Sheriff's Department. Several of them approached me about running. They were unhappy in the (Sheriff's) department and the more I looked into it I realized that some things needed to change.
LIG - What are the biggest problems you see?
Bryson - one is the budget. In 2004 Alan (Cloninger) had a budget of a little over 13 million and his current budget is over 17 million. That may not seem like a big difference but it is an increase of over 25%. I realize that the jail population is bigger but that is always changing. It is a roller coaster that can go up or down. The average number of inmates housed in the jail in 2004 was 459 and even now during the summer months when it is typically higher, the average is 525. The actual staff has only increased by 7 people so I don't think the budget should have increased that much. It would have been larger but the County asked him to trim it down. The staff has received raises in the past, which were deserved, but they did not recieve one this year and I do not think that the tax payers can afford to have Alan in office for four more years.
LIG - What can you do to reduce the budget?
Bryson - There are several things I am looking at but one is just to make things run better. The processing of inmates, for example, can be handled better and this would make sure officers got back on the streets quicker. The jail has to work with many different organizations such as the courts, the District Attorneys office, bail bondsmen, attorneys, police departments, and it can all be more efficient which saves time and money for everybody. I am going in with an open mind and look at what has to be done and what can be done better to save money. That could mean restructuring staff but I have no intentions of letting anybody go. There is no truth to the rumors that I am going to fire everybody (sheriff's staff) and replace them with city staff. Those are scare tactics and not true. I believe you have to treat people with respect. There is a great group of staff that has to go through turmoil every four years and if I was the Sheriff I would never expect any of the staff to become involved in my campaign or to be fearful of their job because of who they support in an election.
LIG - What would be some of your goals as Sheriff?
Bryson - We have to concentrate on repeat offenders and juvenile offenders. For juvenile offenders I would like to see mentoring programs for the kids that do not have a role model. With a mentoring program you have got to stick with it and reach them on their level. We have kids doing drugs and stealing cars and they need someone to work with them. Also we have to make the jail feel like a jail and not a community center. There are things that can be removed and still stay within the law but it would make a stay in jail tougher. There is a mentality out there that doing time in Gaston County is easy time. That has to change. I like to compare it to when you go to the beach and you check into your hotel. If the hotel is horrible you don't ever want to go back. You pick another hotel. The Gaston County jail should be like that hotel at the beach, you should never want to go back. Repeat offenders are costing Gaston County way too much money. Jail has got to be a place that they do not want to go to.
LIG - How do you stop the number of repeat offenders?
Bryson - the jail and the Sheriff's department is only one part of it. There has to be a group effort to make it all work. The department has to seek more involvement with the District Attorneys Office, probation, and local law enforcement. I do not think he (Alan Cloninger) does enough to deter repeat offenders. Cooperation makes it easier for everyone that is part of the legal system. And again, we have to make jail a place that they do not want to come back to. I am willing to work with all of the different areas to streamline and improve current procedures and communication.
LIG - I have read several places that other people were trying to get in touch with you about interviews and you didn't respond. Is there any reason why they were not able to reach you or why you didn't want to do an interview?
Bryson - I have received one phone call from Wil Neumann that was left on my home voice mail while I was out of town and Mark Vannick sent an email to my campaign but my campaign manager was in the hospital and with my hectic schedule I was not able to respond in time. Other than that I am not aware of anything.
LIG - Is there anything you want voters to know about Jeff Bryson?
Bryson - there are a lot of rumors that are not true. I don't start rumors and my staff doesn't start rumors. I want the citizens to be able to make a fair choice between myself and Alan (Cloninger) without all of the rumors. People are tired of the same things in government and I think the time is right that people are going to be voting for new people that have different ideas. It can not continue the way it is now. For me it is not about Democratic or Republican but about who can do the best job.
We would like to thank Mr. Bryson for his time and we look forward to bringing you more interviews with candidates in the 2010 elections.
To learn more about Mr. Bryson visit his website by clicking HERE.
**It should be noted that two calls have been placed to the campaign offices of ALan Cloninger for an interview as well as an email that has been sent but thus far we have recieved no response. If and when we do talk to Sheriff Cloninger, we will print the interview.**
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