It is with great honor that I announce my candidacy for the office of Sheriff of Oglethorpe County. I am overwhelmed to have so many citizens ask me to run for Sheriff. After much consideration, I have decided to seek the office of Sheriff and will be committed to providing Oglethorpe County with excellence in law enforcement.
I am a lifelong resident of Oglethorpe County. I am the son of Jeannie Fincher and the late Bill Fincher. My mother has been the Oglethorpe County Tax Commissioner for the past 28 years and is retiring at the end of this term. It has been my lifelong dream to be sheriff of Oglethorpe County but chose to wait until my mother's retirement before seeking office. My mother instilled the importance of an elected official treating people fairly, with courtesy and respect. She is a perfect example of a strong work ethic and integrity in public office. It is my intention to continue this type of service to the community for at least the next 28 years.
I am a graduate of Oglethorpe County High School and Middle Georgia Law Enforcement Academy and have continued my education in several specialized areas in law enforcement as well as budget management. I began my career in law enforcement in 1979 with the late Sheriff Gene Smith, I have also worked with Chief Larry Postell in the City of Greensboro, Sheriff's Ray Sanders and Jason Lowe over the past several years.
I proudly served the Citizens of Crawford as a Council member for 5 years at which time many improvements to the City infrastructure were completed. I have been actively involved in the Volunteer Fire Departments with in Oglethorpe County for the past 20 years, five as a Chief and the past eleven as Assistant Chief.
I have studied the needs and assets of our county. I have identified the problems and strengths of the Sheriff's Office. I have set goals to maximize the strengths and minimize the problems. The key to good law enforcement in an area such as Oglethorpe County is to have a good plan, for many years I have listened and learned from many people with in our County and stand ready to implement the ideas to protect our citizens and their property
We have constructed a team to carry this campaign into 2008 with great confidence and pride. Karen Sanders - Wade daughter of retired Sheriff Ray Sanders is our campaign manager and is doing an excellent job with organizing Team Fincher.
If you will elect me as your sheriff and entrust me with this office, I will put the people of Oglethorpe County and their needs above all else. After all this is "YOUR" Sheriff's Office.
I want to thank everyone for the support shown thus far and appreciate your continued support. I look forward to serving you as Sheriff of Oglethorpe County.
