Two Republicans running for Pickens County Sheriff

David Harrison is challenging incumbent Rick Clark

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>> IN OUR COMMITMENT 2020 COVERAGE, A DEPUTY IS CHALLENGING THE INCUMBENT SHERIFF TO LEAD PICKENS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT. OUR RENEE WUNDERLICH SPOKE WITH BOTH CANDIDATES TO LEARN WHY THEY FEEL THEY’RE THE MAN FOR THE JOB. >> IF YOU DRIVE DOWN 123 IN PICKENS COUNTY, YOU’LL PROBABLY SEE HIS SIGN, DAVID HARRISON WANTS TO BE THE NEXT SHERIFF. >> I WANT TO BE SHERIFF BECAUSE I’M A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF PICKENS COUNTY, AND OVER THE PAST 7, 7 AND A HALF YEARS, I’VE SEEN A LOT OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> HE HELPED START THE INTERDICTION UNIT THERE IN 2017. HARRISON WAS ALSO A K-9 HANDLER WITH HIGHWAY PATROL, AND LOST TWO FRIENDS TO METH. >> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM. AND, ASIDE FROM THE HEROIN, WE HAVE A HUGE METH PROBLEM I KNOW THAT FIRST-HAND AS WELL. MY GOAL IS TO BRING THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE OVER MY PAST 20-YEAR CAREER THAT I HAVE IN LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND BRING SOME PRO-ACTIVENESS BACK TO THIS COUNTY. ALLOW THE DEPUTIES TO GET OUT HERE AND DO THEIR WORK, DO THEIR JOB, SUPPORT THEM 100% AS THEY’RE OUT HERE MAKING THESE ARRESTS. AND JUST GET IT DONE. >> I THINK YOU’VE SEEN, EVER SINCE I COME IN, IS STABILITY. I’M NOT THE FLASHIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, BUT WE GET THINGS DONE. >> RICK CLARK WAS FIRST ELECTED SHERIFF OF PICKENS COUNTY IN 2013. SINCE THEN, HE SAYS BURGLARIES DOWN 40%, LARCENIES HAVE DROPPED BY 30%, AND THE NUMBER OF ROBBERIES HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF. BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE, HE TELLS ME, HAS BEEN THE COUNTY’S NEW DETENTION FACILITY. >> IF RE-ELECTED, SHERIFF CLARK TELLS ME HE’S GOING TO FOCUS ENERGY AND RESOURCES ON REDUCING RECIDIVISM. WORKING TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SAVE TAX PAYER DOLLARS. >> ONE THING WE DO KNOW, WE’RE NEVER GOING TO ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF OUR DRUG PROBLEM. AND ALSO, WE SEE ACROSS THE STATE AND A CROSS THE NATION, AND IN PICKENS COUNTY, INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE STUCK THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND, BUT WE’RE NOT DOING THAT. >> PICKENS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN VOTE FOR EITHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, RICK CLARK OR DAVID HARRISON ON JUNE

Two Republicans running for Pickens County Sheriff

David Harrison is challenging incumbent Rick Clark

Two Republican candidates are running to be sheriff in Pickens County.Current Sheriff Rick Clark was first elected in 2013. “I think what you’ve seen over the past few years in stability. And what you’ve seen in innovation. And you put those two together with our great staff…it’s hard to beat,” said Clark. “Coming into this job is not about somebody’s ego. It’s not about how many things they can talk about — across the county — it’s what’s being done. And when you have the numbers that we have of the numbers going down, and our jail’s going up and things we’re trying to do there, it’s just a win-win situation for everybody.”Challenger David Harrison works for Greenville County as a Master Deputy. “I’m young, I still have the energy, and I have the know-how and the drive,” said Harrison, “That drive is not something you can go to school for or train for. You’ve gotta possess it. And I’m ready to begin work for our citizens.”The primary is June 9. CLICK THE VIDEO STORY ABOVE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE CANDIDATES.

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. —

Two Republican candidates are running to be sheriff in Pickens County.

Current Sheriff Rick Clark was first elected in 2013.

“I think what you’ve seen over the past few years in stability. And what you’ve seen in innovation. And you put those two together with our great staff…it’s hard to beat,” said Clark. “Coming into this job is not about somebody’s ego. It’s not about how many things they can talk about — across the county — it’s what’s being done. And when you have the numbers that we have of the numbers going down, and our jail’s going up and things we’re trying to do there, it’s just a win-win situation for everybody.”

Challenger David Harrison works for Greenville County as a Master Deputy.

“I’m young, I still have the energy, and I have the know-how and the drive,” said Harrison, “That drive is not something you can go to school for or train for. You’ve gotta possess it. And I’m ready to begin work for our citizens.”

The primary is June 9.

CLICK THE VIDEO STORY ABOVE TO HEAR MORE FROM THE CANDIDATES.

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