Photo: Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed (left) says hes running for Missouris 155th House District representative in the 2020 election. Cpl. Curt Dobbs, a deputy with the sheriffs department, plans to run for the sheriffs job Reed is vacating. Photo: Ozark County Times/Jessi Dreckman
Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed says he intends to run for Missouris 155th District House of Representative seat during the 2020 election.
The representative seat is held by Wasola resident Karla Eslinger, who has announced she intends to run for the 33rd District Senate seat Senator Mike Cunningham will be vacating due to reaching the eight-year term limit.
The Ozark County Times reports in response to Reeds announcement, current Ozark County Sheriffs Cpl. Curtis Dobbs says he intends to run for the position Reed will vacate.
Reed says his desire to run for the Missouri House of Representatives seat came from his own frustrations as hes watched things unfold over the years.
Reed says, “Ive been beating my head against the wall with Jefferson City. He adds, Im just not happy with how things are done. I think they need common folks with common sense inside making these laws. Ive been making a lot of noise, but Im just one voice. I want to bring the voices of the entire 155th district with me to make a difference.
Reed graduated from West Plains High School and began his career as a law enforcement officer in 1984 with the Howell County Sheriffs Department; he continued working in law enforcement in Howell County until he came to Ozark County in 2011.
He was elected in 2012 and ran unopposed in 2016 for his second term as sheriff ending Dec. 31, 2020.
Under Reeds direction, the sheriffs department has increased personnel to eight full-time deputies. Reed also implemented a Greene County prisoner exchange program estimated to bring in an additional $240,000 a year.
Reed said his priorities as representative, if elected, will include stopping what he calls catch-and-release criminal programs, amending bond reform and bringing harsher punishments to persistent criminal offenders.
He says, Im all for rehabilitation, but there comes a time when you have to say enough is enough.
Dobbs says he decided earlier this year to run for sheriff after Reed and Ozark County Chief Deputy Winston Collins asked him if hed be interested in taking the lead after Reeds departure.
Dobbs also graduated from West Plains High School and has deep roots in Ozark County.
After several years in law enforcement, Dobbs worked for 16 years in the private sector as a licensed real estate broker.
In 2014, Reed asked Dobbs to return to his law enforcement roots and join the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady®NSI