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Sheriff candidates throw hats in ring

Jarvis Reeder

Ted Richardson

Two hopefuls announced their candidacies for Laurens County Sheriff this week, becoming the first formal announcements in what is expected to be a busy election season.

Former Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jarvis Reeder and veteran law enforcement officer Ted Richardson made their candidacies official with announcements Monday and Tuesday.

Incumbent Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds, who defeated former sheriff Ricky Chastain in 2016, announced his intentions to seek re-election at a function for supporters a couple of weeks ago.

Richardson, a school resource officer at Laurens Elementary School, made his announcement in a Facebook video Monday afternoon. He has worked in local law enforcement in Laurens, Clinton and the LCSO for the past 27 years, he said in the announcement.

“Through my unique background, I have gained the crucial experience needed to lead the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and make our community a safer place to live,” Richardson said.

Sheriff Don Reynolds

Richardson, a Joanna native, said if elected he plans on reinstating community deputy and DARE programs as well as creating a traffic fatality task force designed to help cut down on traffic fatalities in the county and expanding the LCSO’s narcotics investigations unit among other priorities.

Reeder, who served as chief deputy for 18 months after Reynolds’ election in 2016, is a Laurens County native and Laurens resident. He worked for 17 if his 21 total years in law enforcement in the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office and is currently an investigator with the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the DEA’s Federal Drug Enforcement Task Force.

“As a candidate for sheriff of Laurens County, it is my desire to run a clean and positive campaign to let the citizens know who I am and what I stand for,” Reeder wrote in announcing his candidacy.

Reeder said establishing working relationships with Laurens and Clinton police departments is among his priorities as is growing the LCSO’s narcotics unit and to “strategically fight the war on drugs in our county.”

“I have a plan, but most of all I have a vision for law enforcement in Laurens County,” he said.

3 Comments

  1. Chaplain B Caldwell on February 24, 2020 at 1:21 am

    In the 1990’s Laurens lost so much behind the Redneck Shop and open KKK rallies. Due to a resergence of hate many families left for Simpsonville SC leaving Laurens in a foreclosure crisis. Electing Agent Reeder would send a message of competence, education, safety, inclusion and diversity needed to attract families back to Laurens. This coupled with the economic growth in the past 10 years would be a win win situation for our County.

    • fatjoe400 on June 9, 2020 at 12:56 am

      I know who I’m definitely not voting for now. Thanks for the very “helpful” comment.

  2. George Lyda on June 9, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    Reynolds:safer children, safer pets

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