There are two Republicans running for the June primary for Greene County Sheriff.

One of the candidates is Chief Deputy Jack Williams. He is a Jefferson native and graduated from Jefferson-Scranton High School. After attending his freshman year of college, Williams enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. He has been with the Greene County Sheriff’s office for 12 years and with the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department for 13 years. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio why he is running for sheriff.

“As sheriff, I think I can help better the community by assisting with the youth and getting them properly educated to the effects of drugs and crime. Try and better the image with the youth with law enforcement as a whole as today’s society looks like law enforcement, in general, negatively.”

He is the certified arson investigator for the county, the sheriff’s office K-9 handler, weapons and rifle instructor, defensive tactics instructor, Active Shooter Response instructor, he is also firefighter level I instructor and CPR/First Aid instructor. In addition to his professional experience, Williams also serves as president of the Greene County Peace Officers Association, the Greene County Mentoring Board, the Greene County Sportsman Club and the a board member of the Local Emergency Planning Commission.

Deputy Kirk Hammer is challenging Williams for the Republican nomination in the primary election.