Benny Davenport said he understands families who are dealing with relatives with drug problems.

“I have a relative in prison because of methamphetamine,” Davenport said. “I know how these other folks feel that are victims of it because of how it’s affected my family.”

Davenport’s experience with his relative is one of the reasons he wants to be sheriff of Murray County. Davenport faces fellow Republican Ken Smith in the July 15 primary. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Howard Ensley in the Nov. 4 general election. Davenport ran for sheriff in 2004 and lost to Ensley.

Davenport began his law enforcement career in 1991 as a jailer at the sheriff’s office. In 1992, he received his peace officer certification, and he worked as a road deputy until 1998. He then worked for the Chatsworth Police Department until 2004, when he resigned to run for sheriff. He joined the Ellijay Police Department in 2007 and is still employed there as a patrolman.

Davenport said grants are available to help fund a drug task force and are not being utilized.

“We could have a task force or some kind of interdiction program,” Davenport said. “We don’t participate in one with anyone. We don’t have anyone dedicated seven days a week to work in drugs. It’s going to take a team effort.”

The sheriff’s office does not have radars or lasers to enforce speed limits in the county, Davenport said.

“I recommend radar not as a means of revenue but as a public safety factor,” he said. “When you cut down on speed, you cut down on accidents and you save lives.”

Davenport sees illegal aliens as a problem. He believes the sheriff’s office should work more closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He praised the federal 287(g) program the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office recently implemented. That program gives jailers access to an ICE database that alerts them if an individual who is arrested is in the country illegally.

“If a crime is committed or at a traffic stop and you find out the person is illegal, let the state and ICE teams take over.” Davenport said. “There is nothing in place here and it’s something that should have been in place.”

While Davenport said he didn’t know the specifics of the sheriff’s office’s budget, he doesn’t think it is adequate. The current budget for the sheriff’s office is $1.469 million. The jail’s budget is $1.72 million. The sheriff is paid $94,218 a year and oversees 60 employees.

“Until deputies and other personnel salaries at the sheriff’s office are brought to parity with other counties, the budget is not adequate,” Davenport said.

And with the new jail addition that is expected to be open next year, “We’re going to have to have additional personnel,” he said. “Keeping costs at a minimum is something that has to be worked on daily.”

Davenport said he doesn’t think the sheriff’s office is in touch with people, particularly victims.

“The victim should be treated like a victim,” he said. “Keep them updated on what is happening. Exhaust every means and if it can’t be solved they need to tell the victim. To leave them without any answer is wrong.”