Beech Tree News Network

BACKGROUND:  Scottie Ward – Age: 50 – Address: 1375 Hidden Valley Dr. Morgantown, KY – Spouse: Jamie Ward – Children: Kasey (Ward) Ray – Gage Ward – Jacie Ward – 1985 Butler County Graduate - Job History: 1986-1989 US Army – 1989-1994 Kentucky National Guard – 1991-2009 Kentucky State Police – 2011-Present- Butler County Sheriff.

1). Broadly speaking, what are the primary reasons you are seeking the office for which you are running?

Answer: I ran for this office in 2010 because I felt like it needed to be moving in a different direction than it was. It needed to be up dated as far as everything needed to computerized (citations, cases, accidents and taxes) and less hand writing. The cars needed computers in them to make the deputies’ job easier and more professional. The deputies needed to provide 24/7 coverage. The office needed to be in the news paper less and if in the paper it needed to good media coverage. I think I have accomplished my mission so far but there is still work to be done that I will explain in another question.

2). What specific qualifications do you possess that would allow you to be effective in the position you are seeking? 

Answer: Since I was 18 the only jobs I really had was a public servant.  The Army taught me responsibility for myself and others. It taught me how to be a follower and a leader. It taught me that you have to have a commitment to reach your goals.

The State Police taught me how to be a professional and how to be law enforcement officer the right way. It taught me how to do things the right way and to take pride in what you do. To always treat people the way you would want your family treated no matter the circumstance.    

3). Identify the key issues impacting the position for which you are running and describe how you would propose to address them as a public officeholder?

Answer: School Safety – Over the last few months there has been two terrible incidents happen that shows us it can happen anywhere. All of us need to work together to come up with ideas and solutions to make sure this doesn’t happen here. As a Sheriff’s office we need to take every text, email and verbal statement series and check it out. Parents and school staff need to report anything they hear to law enforcement so we can check it. Everyone in the community must work together to make sure we keep our kids safe. Anytime something like this happens we have to learn from it and make the needed adjustments to make sure it don’t happen again.

Answer: Retaining Qualified Personal: I have been lucky that four of the five core deputies that I started with are still here and the one that left didn’t leave for another law enforcement agency but left for a career change. It cost over 20,000.00 to get a new deputy certified and over a year to get this done. Both of the office personal and Bailiff I started with are still here. Dealing with taxes, budgets, payroll, transports, warrants, paper service and carrying concealed it’s a luxury for the public having someone that knows how to help you.    

4). As a potential or current elected official what do you see as the proper role and function of local government?

Answer: First and most important never forget who you work for and that it is the citizens of Butler County. Know what your job is and as sheriff it is to serve and protect the citizens of Butler County the best way you can. Be a team player and do what’s best for the community not what’s best for you. The more we can put our county in a positive light the better it will be for all of us.

5). What is your long-term vision for Butler County?

Answer: As Sheriff your goal is provide a drug free, crime free community where people want to live. As far as the drug free and crime free it is and always will be my goal but is it a realistic goal probably not but we can always hope. The long term realistic vision is to provide a community where people want live and feel safe living and a sheriff’s office the county can be proud of.    

I want our kids to be able to live in Butler County and have good jobs and raise their families. As a father it’s hard when your kids have to move to other counties to find good paying jobs and you don’t get to see them as much as you would like.      

VOTE SCOTTIE WARD BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF

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