JR Brandon disqualified for sheriff

By MIKE WEST, Courier Editor

The field for the post of Cannon County Sheriff has narrowed to only two candidates, following a state ruling on Charles Brandon Jr.

"It's true that Charles Brandon Jr. has been disqualified from seeking the sheriff's post," public information officer Katelyn Abernathy said Thursday. Abernathy represents the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission.

Unlike most candidates for public office, Tennessee has a specific list of qualifications that every candidate for sheriff must meet.

Brandon did not meet the requirement of having at least three years of full-time experience as a peace officer standards and training certified law enforcement officer in the previous 10 years, Abernathy said.

Thus far, only current Sheriff Darrell Young and former Cannon County Deputy Brad Hall have qualified to run for sheriff. The POST deadline is Feb. 6.

Both Young and Hall have turned in qualified sig-natures for the August Election running for Sheriff and have received his qualification from Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

"The August election will be huge," said Dorinda Mankin, administrator of elections. "May's election is just judicial officials, but everybody had to qualify at the same time."

Thus far, the most contested race is the Fifth District County Commission seats currently held by newcomers Chuck Holt and Jim Jones.

"Seven candidates have picked up qualification papers, but only three have returned them," Mankin said.

The Fourth District race features five candidates for the posts currently held by Commissioners Tony Neal and Clint Higgins.