NATCHEZ — Three candidates hope to fill the spurs of a position long held by Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell, who is not seeking reelection and plans to retire.

Robert “Rock” Davis, Kenneth Hedrick and Charles “Junior” Tarver hope to continue and expand some programs already in place at the sheriff’s office but each named their own priorities if elected to the top law enforcement position and tax collector of Concordia Parish.

Robert “Rock” Davis

Davis said he hopes to step outside the boundaries of law enforcement if elected to focus on education.

“It’s not about just putting people in jail, it’s about educating people,” Davis said.

He said his 27-plus years working as a bus driver for the Concordia Parish School District, in addition to his law enforcement experience, give him an advantage of knowing the families and students in the parish. He said he believes programs could be extended to better suit the community’s needs.

Davis said he would like to extend the anti-drug DARE program to students older than the fifth grade. He also said he would like to educate students to address teenage pregnancy and education to prevent high school dropouts.

“High school is where we have most of the (drug) problems,” Davis said.

Davis said the current sheriff has done a good job, and he would like to continue a lot of existing programs. The person elected sheriff has the challenge of establishing himself in the community, Davis said.

“Some people don’t want to adapt (to change),” he said.

Kenneth Hedrick

Hedrick, who most recently served as Ferriday Police Chief, said he is interested in addressing what he sees as a drug problem in Concordia Parish.

“Drugs are the main problem and leads to everything else…all crimes,” he said.

Hedrick said his experience speaks for itself in terms of his qualifications to be sheriff.

Hedrick said he is unsure what he would change at the sheriff’s office.

“I’ll (see what to change) when I get into the sheriff’s (position) and evaluate what’s good and what’s bad,” he said.

He also said he would like to some of the positive programs at the sheriff’s office.

“I believe in working with the kids, with the schools and working with the public,” he said.

Hedrick’s main goal is to provide a safe environment to the citizens of the parish, he said.

“I want people to feel safe at home and on the streets in this parish.”

Charles “Junior” Tarver

Tarver said as a recent employee at the sheriff’s office with administrative experience, he knows areas he would like to change and knows he wants to continue the things he sees as good attributes.

“We’ve got a number of good qualified people (at the sheriff’s office), and we actually have a good DARE program” Tarver said.

Tarver said he would like to add more outdoor and sports programs that involve the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

He said he would also like to develop some type of outdoor arena for use by the sheriff’s office.

Tarver said Maxwell is leaving the sheriff’s office debt free, which is a level of financial stability he wants to maintain.

Tarver also said his experience in law enforcement qualifies him for the position.

“I’ve got 33 years of law enforcement experience in everything from the line (patrol) up to supervision,” he said.