NATCHEZ — Today The Natchez Democrat profiles candidates vying for the Adams County Constable positions in northern and southern districts.

All candidates vying of constable positions in both northern and southern districts of Adams County are running as Democrats so the positions will be decided in the primaries.

Constable candidates in Adams County Northern District are Deselle Mody Davis and incumbent Willie B. Jones.

Constable candidates running to fill the Adams County Southern District are Randy Freeman, Chris Allen Logan and Diania Walker.

Incumbent Adams County Southern District Constable, Adam Kirk, is vacating the position to run as an independent candidate for the Adams County Sheriff position.

The Adams County Constables’ duties, outlined below as summarized from Mississippi state statutes by the Mississippi State University Extension service, are

“‘to keep and preserve the peace within the county, by faithfully aiding and assisting in executing the criminal laws of the state.’ In addition, the constable is required to attend the justice court of his/her district and execute all judgments in any criminal case before the court.”

Adams County Constable Northern District

Why should Adams County voters elect you to serve as the Adams County Constable in your district?

Deselle Mody Davis: I feel the voters should elect me to serve as Constable in the Northern District, because I am very knowledgeable, dedicated, reliable and honest. Serving as the Justice Court Bailiff for the last eight years has properly prepared me for the position as constable. I have the experience and understand the Justice Court civil and criminal law processes. For seven years, I have provided private security and have been trusted by several attorneys and businesses to process serve their court documents. I also have an established a working relationship with our local and state law enforcement agencies.

Willie B. Jones: I am well known in the community for my willingness to work with people for the advancement of our community. I am undeniably a people person. I work closely with Adams County Justice Court, local, state and federal law enforcement personnel.

 

What is the biggest issue facing the Adams County Constable position in your district?

Deselle Mody Davis: The biggest issue is time management. Delivering court summons on time lessens the confusion and saves our citizens, business owners and our court system time and money.

Willie B. Jones: I believe that there are no issues in the Northern district or the Southern district, because we work as a team to serve the people of Adams County. If Adam Kirk is out of town with military exercises or vacation, I take care of the Southern district and if I am out of town he takes care of the Northern district for me. We work as a team to serve the people who elected us as constables.

What do you think is the public’s biggest misconception about the Adams Constable’s office in your district, and what would you do to address it?

Deselle Mody Davis: The biggest misconception is the Constable not only serves documents for the Justice Court system. They are also Peace officers, which is a civil officer. They should also have a strong presence within our community by patrolling and preserving the peace, for example, supporting our Neighborhood Watch programs and assisting our local law enforcement agencies if needed.

Willie B. Jones: One common misconception about constables is that they are part of the County Sheriff’s Office. That is not true. Constables and sheriff’s have the same jurisdiction countywide. Constables and sheriffs perform many of  the same roles in Justice Court.
What experience do you have that uniquely qualifies you for the Adams County Constable position in your district?

Deselle Mody Davis: I am the only candidate who has served as a bailiff for the Adams County Justice Court. I have been serving summons for the last seven years for Adams and surrounding counties and in Louisiana; providing private security and having a notable working relationship with our local law enforcement agencies has improved safety in our community.

Willie B. Jones:

• Over 30 years in Law Enforcement.
• Graduate of New Orleans Parish Sheriff’s and Mississippi Constable’s Academy
• Graduate of Jackson Police and Pearl Law Enforcement Academy
• Safety director, Alcorn State University
• Natchez police/detective and code enforcement officer
• Attended over 100 Seminars in Law Enforcement
• Served my Country in the United States Army
• Member of American Legion

Education:

• Graduated from South Natchez High
• Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and
• Master’s degree in secondary education from Alcorn State University

I am the most qualified candidate beyond a shadow of a doubt in experience and education for Constable of the Northern district. I believe I did a good job and should be re-elected.

If elected Adams County Constable in your district what would you add or change about the current Constable’s office operations?

Deselle Mody Davis: I will have an open door policy. I will be readily available to serve the citizens and the Justice Court system. I will give our citizens the utmost respect. I will increase and maintain a visual presence in our community on a daily basis. I am committed to upholding the laws and processes of the Justice Court and delivering court documents on time and respectfully.

Willie B. Jones: The only thing that needs changing is to move Justice Court to County Court on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because it is much safer to screen and search for weapons or anything that is illegal. The County Attorney is looking into this matter to make it much safer in the Justice Court Room.

Adams County Constable Southern District

Why should Adams County voters elect you to serve as the Adams County Constable in your district?

Randy Freeman: I was born and raised and I am a lifelong resident of Adams County. I enjoy helping people. My career has been centered around law enforcement. I retired with 32 years of law enforcement experience with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. I also had two years of experience with Louisiana State Penitentiary. I served as the Constable, Southern District Adams County, for three terms from 2004–2016. I am the only candidate in this district with the experience necessary to perform this job.

I was and will be, if elected, available to the citizens of Adams County 24/7 and my phone number is listed in the phone book.

Chris Logan:  Voters should elect me because of my experience, professionalism and a sincere concern for the citizens of Adams County. I believe in community policing, and I will continue to conduct business checks, welfare checks on our citizens and their personal property.

What is the biggest issue facing the Adams County Constable position in your district?

Randy Freeman: The biggest issue I see facing the Constables in both districts is safety. We are living in times where people do not see the value of human life, especially the lives of law enforcement officers. A Constable never knows when they knock on that door to serve a summons how they will be greeted by the person they are trying to serve.

Chris Logan:  I think the biggest issue is serving civil process (evictions, executions, attachments, child support papers, etc.) and completing the returns in a timely manner. If elected, being a Constable for the Southern District will be my full-time job.

 

What do you think is the public’s biggest misconception about the Adams County Constable’s office in your district and what would you do to address it?

Randy Freeman:  I think the biggest misconception about the Constable position is that people think a Constable works for the Sheriff’s Department when actually a Constable reports to and works under the Adams County Justice Court. I also think that people are under the assumption that Constable’s have a salary and are given a vehicle to drive. As a Constable, you are only paid for the summons you deliver. Each Constable is required to purchase their own equipment and duty weapon. They are also required to purchase their own vehicle, their own fuel and maintain their vehicle. The board of supervisors gives the Constable an allotted dollar amount to purchase necessary lights and radios/scanners for the vehicle and provide a stipend for the Constable to attend annual training.

Chris Logan:  That a Constable can lawfully pick and choose who they can or will serve a summons, subpoena or any other type of civil process to and that they can receive a fee provided by law for making an arrest or attending any trial.

What experience do you have the uniquely qualifies you for the Adams County Constable position in your district?

Randy Freeman: I am the only candidate in the Southern District that has experience as Constable.  I served three consecutive terms as the Constable, Southern District Adams County from 2004–2016. I gave up the position in 2016 so I could run for Sheriff of Adams County. While in office I maintained a high standard of work performance as well as a good working relationship with law enforcement agencies in the Miss-Lou.

Chris Logan:  I have worked for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office eight years as a jailer and 10 year as a deputy sheriff. My job description and duties with the ACSO have prepared me to be able to work directly with the public in both law enforcement and protection capacity. My job as a Constable will be to keep and preserve the peace within the county, execute and return all processes directed to me by any county, chancery, or circuit, advise other officers of all unlawful assemblies and violations of the penal law. These duties I have performed in my capacity as a deputy sheriff.

If elected Adams County Constable in your district what would you add or change about the current Constable’s office operations?

Randy Freeman: I will perform all duties of this position with high standards. I will work side by side with all law enforcement agencies in the Miss-Lou when needed. A law enforcement officer is never off duty so anyone, in time of need, can call me. My phone number is listed in the phone book.

Chris Logan:  If elected Constable I will have a direct line of communications with both local law enforcement agencies and I will be the voice for the citizens in the Southern District. Also, mental illness is a major problem in our county and country. As Constable, I would like to attend training to work with the mentally ill, complete the 40-hour credentialing course, and work in conjunction with the Adams County Sheriffs Office CIT Unit as an extra unit or back up resource when handling our citizens who are suffering with mental health issues.