Stephen Turner announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Roanoke County Sheriff last Friday at the Roanoke County Courthouse. The special election will be held in November.
Thirty-five supporters, including the County Treasurer Kevin Hutchins and Commonwealth Attorney Randy Leach, was there to support Turner’s nomination. Mike Bailey, Roanoke County Republican Chair, introduced the candidate.
Turner, 57, is a lieutenant with the Roanoke County Police Department and a graduate of Virginia Western Community College and Radford University.
After graduating from Andrew Lewis High School, Turner enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a military policeman in South Korea. He continued his service in the Army Reserves in Salem until 1978.
He said that he prides himself “in being fair to people and won’t expect anyone to do a job they are not trained to do.”
Turner summed up his style of management by saying that he “believes in teamwork … I’m not going to have all the answers.” Fiscal management and belt tightening are two things he plans to bring to the office if elected. Turner will examine the budget and look for ways to streamline where possible.
“I believe in transparency; there should be no secrets,” said Turner. He concluded by saying that, “no one should fear something coming out of this jail that will bring ill will. I don’t want any surprises.”
He began his law enforcement career as a Roanoke County sheriff’s office auxiliary police officer in 1976. In 1977 he became a Deputy Sheriff and was promoted to lieutenant in 1989. He spent five years as a volunteer firefighter with the Cave Spring fire department.
In 1990 he became a lieutenant in the newly formed Roanoke County police department. He supervised patrol officers and civilian employees at the emergency communications center.
He and his wife Vicki, along with their two daughters, live in the Hollins area and are members of Southview United Methodist Church. He emphasized his family values.
He said it was former Roanoke County Sheriff O. S. Foster who warned him to keep politics out of the sheriff’s office. “I want everyone that’s employed here in the sheriff’s department to know their job does not depend on politics; they will have a job,” said Turner.
Turner will challenge Democrat Mike Winston, who’s been serving as Roanoke County’s sheriff since the resignation of Gerald Holt on March 1. Roanoke County School Board Chairman Mike Stovall, a former Vinton police officer, is running as an Independent in the special election.
By Valerie Garner [email protected]