Meet the candidates: Chamber hosts Warden, Nohe at luncheon

Chamber hosts Warden, Nohe at luncheon

The Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a legislative luncheon on Tuesday to give chamber members a chance to hear from both people running for Washington County Sheriff.

The luncheon was at the Marietta Country Club as Washington County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden and former Washington County Jail Administrator Greg Nohe each spoke for about 15 minutes about their campaigns and what they will do if they are elected sheriff.

Nohe spoke first, talking about his military and law enforcement careers. He said that through his career he learned about teamwork.

Nohe said the sheriff is a position of leadership and that the position has three responsibilities, law enforcement services for the unincorporated areas of Washington County, operating the county jail and providing civil process services, and all of those things require a leader.

"It is essential, imperative, that that person has the ability to pull people together," Nohe said of the next sheriff.

Nohe also said it is important for a leader to have the support of the people he leads and that he has been endorsed by the Teamsters Union, who represent the officers at the Sheriff's Office and the Marietta Fraternal Order of Police.

Nohe talked about programs he has brought about that he believes have facilitated teamwork and cooperation when he worked at Marietta Police Department and the Sheriff's Office. One example he gave is that he mentored young officers throughout his career.

Nohe closed by saying "I'll promise on this, that if I'm elected sheriff of this county, the people in the room will not be disappointed. The deputies, the law enforcement officers that work this county will not be disappointed."

Warden spoke second, also talking about his law enforcement career, including his work at the Washington County Sheriff's Office and on the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force as its commander.

He said during his career he "has sat across the table from evil" and has seen crime at its lowest and highest level and knows how to work it.

Warden said the main principle he has followed during his career is what he can do better to serve the citizens of Washington County.

He also said his career has prepared him to be sheriff because as Chief Deputy he has worked on budgets, policies and procedures. He said he also started programs during his career, including Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) where officers check on senior residents.

Warden said the biggest problem in Washington County is drugs and if he is elected sheriff he plans to address it by changing protocol at the sheriff's department where a detective will be sent to the scene of every felony call, thus freeing deputies to go back out.

Warden finished his talk by saying "As I move forward, I ask for your support in the upcoming primary ."

Attendees were then able to ask the candidates questions.

Nohe and Warden are running for Washington County Sheriff in the Republican primary election March 19. There is no Democratic candidate, so whoever wins the primary will be sheriff. The deadline to register to vote in the primary election is Feb. 20.