Charlton County Sheriff unopposed in bid for reelection

Charlton County Sheriff unopposed in bid for reelection

By MELISSA BURNSED

Qualifying for the upcoming elections in Charlton County wrapped up recently. For incumbent Sheriff Ernest "Dobie" Conner the deadline was good news as no candidates emerged to challenge the long term head of law enforcement in the Georgia county that shares a border with Baker, Columbia and Nassau County.

Sheriff Conner (in an old photo) taken as he looks over drug from a recent narcotics bust.

Sheriff Conner has worked closely with his counter parts in Florida to ensure that criminals don’t set up operations along the heavily wooded state’s borders. That is a big job because Charlton County is the states largest in land mass, yet it is also one of the smallest in population and tax base. The sheriff’s department has one of the smallest forces and budgets to cover the most territory.

Residents in the southern end of the county share more than a border with their neighbors across the state line. Many commute to jobs all over North Florida. Residents in the Georgia Bend and Saint George communities shop and bank in Baker County.

More than 100 students cross the state line and attend schools in Florida rather than take a bus ride that is over an hour to the county’s only high school in Folkston. Baker County has an agreement with Charlton‘s school board, that allows parents to pay a special yearly tuition fee (a prorated percentage of what Florida homeowners pay in school taxes).

Voters in the county’s southern most district will have one tough decision to make this summer, when they cast their ballots on July 15. Incumbent County Commissioner Mitchell Crawford, will face a challenge from former seat holder Jesse Crews. Both qualified to run for the four year term, as representative for Charlton’s largest district.