Local News: Election Q&A: Drury Challenged by Juden, Wheetley in Scott County Sheriff Race (7/29/24)

BENTON, Mo. — Voters in Scott County will decide their sheriff’s election during the primary on Tuesday, August 6, as only Republican candidates are running.

On the Republican ballot, voters will choose between incumbent Wes Drury of Kelso, Missouri, and challengers Hunter Juden of Morley, Missouri, and Derick Wheetley of Sikeston, Missouri. There are no Democratic candidates.

To help voters get to know the candidates, the Standard Democrat has compiled information in a question-and-answer format with them. The following are answers from Drury, Juden and Wheetley.

Background:

Drury: I grew up in Kelso and still live there. Since 1980, I have served in various roles in the county: EMT for North Scott County Ambulance, firefighter, and arson investigator with the Scott City Fire Department. Over the past forty years, I have served in roles as a reserve deputy, road trooper, jail manager, investigator for the DA, and sheriff. My wife, Connie, and I are proud parents of four children and grandparents of six grandchildren with another grandchild on the way, all of whom reside in Kelso. I am also a member of the Scott City Knights of Columbus.

Jews: I was born and raised in Sikeston to Drew and Debbie Juden. I graduated from Sikeston High School and later attended the SEMO Law Enforcement Academy. During high school, I attended the criminal justice program and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Cadet Academy during the summers. I served as a deputy sheriff for Scott County, where I was also the K-9 handler for K-9 Rex. During my time as a deputy sheriff for Scott County, I also served as a fugitive task force agent with the United States Marshal Service. I currently serve as the Chief of Police for Morley, Vice Chairman of the Scott County Central School Board, and President of Morley Oaks. I also currently serve as a patrol officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Whetley: I am a lifelong resident of Scott County. I grew up in Benton and graduated from Kelly High School in 2002, where I played many sports and other school activities. I grew up involved in local politics, as my great-grandfather was John Dennis, who served as Scott County Sheriff and Missouri State Senator. I have been married for 18 years and have three children. My oldest son serves full-time in the Army National Guard and my two youngest children attend Sikeston High School. I am an avid traveler, having visited 39 countries. I enjoy learning about different cultures and am an avid recreational scuba diver.

What do you think will be the biggest issue the sheriff will face during your term if elected?

Drury: Due to retirements and a lack of recruits, we need to bring in new guards, officers, and dispatchers to our community. Our county has one of the lowest salaries in Southeast Missouri, exacerbated by challenges like the COVID pandemic. During COVID, despite closures, crime has continued, filling our jail to capacity while dealing with sick staff and minimal staffing. Surviving these trials is a testament to our resilience, and with support from citizens and county government, we can improve law enforcement staffing and services.

Jews: If I am elected Sheriff of Scott County, one of the many issues I will face is repairing and improving the current jail facilities and ensuring the safety of the facility as a whole. Another issue is working to secure grant funding, as I have done successfully in Morley, so that less taxes will be levied on the public. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, will be increasing the number of patrol officers on the road, along with increasing their pay.

Whetley: The biggest issue in my opinion is gaining and maintaining the trust of the citizens of Scott County. This will be accomplished through hard work, dedication, and transparency. Our county deserves safe neighborhoods, follow-through on cases, and the Sheriff’s Office’s full dedication to every case. The second biggest issue will be getting wages and benefits that are competitive with surrounding agencies. This is important to retaining employees and maintaining adequate staffing. By retaining employees, we will reduce the cost of often training new employees in the future.

Which issues do you think are most important for the province?

Drury: It is essential that every elected official work together effectively for the well-being of Scott County residents. Our children and seniors are especially vulnerable and are often targeted by predators. Our county must prioritize efforts to protect children from predators, including those involved in human trafficking. Likewise, measures must be taken to protect seniors from individuals and scams that threaten their financial security and well-being.

Jews:The issues that I feel are important to the region are the safety of our children, feeling safe and secure in our neighborhoods and homes, and protecting and upholding the Constitution in this ever-changing world.

Whetley: Similar to the last question, I believe after months of talking to numerous citizens of the county that one of the biggest issues is trust in the Sheriff’s Office, along with following up on cases and responding to calls for service in a timely manner. I will hold all employees to a high standard to ensure that we serve everyone to the best of our ability. Another issue that is often brought to my attention is the amount of illegal dumping and littering throughout the county. We will ensure that all calls are handled and investigated.

What are your goals if elected?

Drury: If elected to my final term, I will seek to restore essential services that the Scott County Sheriff’s Office has lost due to recent budget cuts. My priorities include restoring and fully supporting the K-9 program under the sole management of our department, and meeting the high demand from school administrators for illegal substance detection. Additionally, the K-9 unit plays a critical role in drug detection in our jail facilities. I also plan to increase the involvement of deputies in state and federal task forces to foster stronger collaborative efforts. It is critical to ensure that our resources align with the needs of the community, and to strengthen the commitment to safety and effective law enforcement in Scott County.

Jews: If elected, I would like to appoint a school counselor in every school in the region, increase the number of patrol officers, make more home visits to sex offenders to ensure they are adhering to their conditions, and work to clean up the roads in the region by having low-risk inmates clean up trash from the roads and ditches.

Whetley: Bring a balanced, effective, and community-focused law enforcement back to Scott County; demonstrate leadership and vision in a manner that inspires public trust; build safe neighborhoods and strong communities with integrity and a service mindset; use tactics and respectful communication to effectively improve and ensure public safety; improve jail safety for employees and inmates; address crimes such as agricultural theft and drug use/production that occur off the main roads in the county; increase enforcement and transparency with the citizens of the county; work with commissioners to develop a budget that improves employee pay and benefits.

Why should voters choose you (experience or otherwise)?

Drury: During my 40 years in emergency services, Scott County has faced flooding, a pandemic, and other significant challenges. Our county is located on the active New Madrid Fault Line, which experiences approximately 200 earthquakes per year, and spans 120 miles south of Charleston, Missouri, crossing multiple state lines and two major rivers. It is critical that Scott County be led by officials and leaders who can work collaboratively to ensure that the preparedness and needs of our community are effectively addressed. My experience in EMS, fire, and law enforcement, combined with my leadership background, makes me the ideal candidate for the job. Additionally, our county has a jail where ensuring the proper treatment of inmates requires expertise and dedication. Managing the jail presents unique challenges that require a sheriff who ensures safety by understanding the legal system, adhering to legal standards, and maintaining effective working relationships with county judges. With my background as a jailer, prison administrator, and sheriff, I am the only candidate qualified to effectively serve the needs of our community, inmates, and detention facilities. I would greatly appreciate it if you would cast your vote on August 6th and support me for a final term as sheriff serving the citizens of Scott County.

Jews: Voters should elect me on August 6th because although I am the youngest candidate, I have the knowledge and experience to lead this county into a better future. I plan to lead the Sheriff’s Department by being physically involved in every aspect of the role, not by making decisions from an office. I believe in building strong relationships with the community we serve, where the citizens can have confidence in the decisions that are made. This county is constantly changing and I believe I am the only candidate for Sheriff that will put the needs of the county above all else and get the job done. Thank you and God bless you.

Whetley: I have 21 years of law enforcement experience, the first two years with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and the last 19 years with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety. In Sikeston, I served as an officer, nine years as a sergeant, three years as a lieutenant, and since 2020, I have been a captain. I have experience preparing and overseeing a multi-million dollar budget and have overseen a department of over 20 people. I have led the rescue team as part of the Homeland Security Response Team for this region and have served as the coordinator for Region E Fire Mutual Aid. During the COVID pandemic, I was tasked with coordinating with Jefferson City, Missouri, and providing personal protective equipment to all police and fire departments in Region E, which consists of 13 counties. I have also been involved in securing numerous grants for Sikeston DPS, along with Region E and the Homeland Security Response Team. I am not one to boast, so I will let my past work history and actions speak for themselves. I encourage everyone to look at the experience and work experience of all candidates so that you get a good picture of all of us.

Polling stations will be open from 6am to 7pm on Tuesday, August 6.