A county constable has all the same powers as a sheriff”s deputy, so it”s no surprise the position attracts many from the ranks of the Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Office.
In District 2, a former deputy who”s served as constable for 16 years faces a current deputy with 11 years of law enforcement experience.
The eventual winner will be paid per service for a range of services. The constable is charged with serving legal notices (i.e. summons, subpoenas, evictions, repossessions) serving as a bailiff in Justice Court, writing tickets and, when necessary, assisting the sheriff”s department or fellow constables. In rare cases constables will make arrests and may be tasked by a Justice Court judge to do some investigating.
Tim Cook
Tim Cook, 34, is ready for the next step in his law enforcement career.
The Oktibbeha County sheriff”s deputy joined the Army National Guard immediately after graduating from Houston High School and has also logged four years with the Houston Police Department, five years with the Starkville Police Department and two years with the Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Office.
Since moving to Oktibbeha County in 2004 to work for the SPD, he”s felt a sense of duty to the citizens.
“I just enjoy working with people,” said Cook. “As a constable, I”d have the same duties as a deputy and I”ve done the work of a constable.”
The married father of two asks voters to consider the whole person, as well as experience, when choosing a constable.
Cook is a Republican.
Curtis Randle
Curtis Randle, 46, has a long history of public service.
He, too, spent time in the National Guard as well as the Army Reserve, eventually retiring from the military with 24 years served. He”s also a captain in the Starkville Fire Department with 22 years of experience fighting fires.
Randle, a B.L. Moore High School grad, joined the Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Office as a part-time deputy in 1991 and served until he was elected constable in 1996.
Randle points out that constables have a great deal of independence and, therefore, must have a great deal of focus.
“By not having a boss, constables have to discipline ourselves and we”ve got to be self-motivated,” he said.
He believes he”s the best candidate for the job because he”s a proven multi-tasker and has maintained his professionalism and ethics while serving the county.
Randle is a Democrat.
James Lindsey
The current District 3 constable, James Lindsey, is running unopposed. Lindsey, 67, has served as constable for 31 years and recently retired from the OCSO as a commander after 33 years on the job.
He is the former property control supervisor at Mississippi State University and a graduate of Sturgis High School.
Lindsey is a Democrat.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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