TheTandD.com | Logan mounts second challenge to Summers

Logan mounts second challenge to Summers

By TUCKER LYON, T&D Government Writer Monday, January 07, 2008

ST. MATTHEWS -- The 2008 general election is almost a year away, but one Calhoun County candidate is already mounting his second challenge to Sheriff Thomas Summers.

A.J. Logan, a retired S.C. Highway Patrol trooper, has announced that he's running as a candidate in the Democratic primary.

"I want to let people know I'm running and I'll be there," he said.

Logan retired in June 2003 as a district lieutenant in Orangeburg. The former post commander spent most of his law enforcement career in Calhoun County with some service in Columbia on a state level.

Filing for the partisan offices opens in March, with the primaries to be held in June.

In the 2004 primary race, Summers trounced both Logan and former sheriff Bing Jones by winning a whopping 80 percent of the vote. Summers got 2,475 votes to 417 for Jones and 221 for Logan.

Although he only got 7 percent of the vote, Logan said he's running because "we've still got the problems we had." And, he said, the 80 percent who supported Summers in 2004 have "had four years to change their minds."

Summers was first elected sheriff as a Republican in 2004 in a hard fought campaign against the incumbent, Jones. However, he switched parties and won re-election to a second four-year term in 2004 as a Democrat.

Summers said he preferred not to comment at this time.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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16 comment(s)

The following comments are reader submitted. They do not represent the views of The T&D or Lee Enterprises.

Elise wrote on Jan 18, 2008 11:05 AM:

" According to the Elloree web site, the 3 man police department answers between 10 and 20 calls per month. Unless you are an officer in the very beginning of your career, how can this be viewed as "gaining experience"? "

provenance wrote on Jan 15, 2008 5:52 PM:

" Elise,

I respect your right to your opinion, though mine differs. I don't think that staying in the county one's whole career is necessarily a qualifier for sheriff. I look at the experiences gained in larger agencies as a positive.

Working outside of the county is not a sign of disloyalty, it's a sign of maturity, and a desire to gain experience and tactics that can't be found in a small county agency.

"

elise wrote on Jan 15, 2008 9:15 AM:

" CavalierFan - my understanding is that other law enforcement agencies support Sheriff Summers 100%, but the issue that really matters is how the people of Calhoun County feel. If potential candidates jump from agency to agency, their loyalty is questioned. Especially when most of their time is or has been spent in other counties besides Calhoun. Sheriff Summers is the ONLY candidate whose entire law enforcement career has been spent in Calhoun County. His dedication to the people of my county has been unwavering. This type of loyalty to ALL people of Calhoun County is a major factor in my decision to wholeheartedly support Sheriff Summers. "

CavalierFan wrote on Jan 14, 2008 10:25 AM:

" ConcernMother, I hope that voters in Calhoun County will share your opinion, just as I do. It seems like most people are either for the Sheriff or for ANYONE else. But mudslinging does not do anything but make people mad. We need to really look at the state of the current Sheriff and his department, and then make an educated decision about whether we want a change. There are numerous candidates to choose from this time, and I think that there is one who could totally change the way other law enforcement agencies look at Calhoun County, in a GOOD way. "

Elise wrote on Jan 14, 2008 9:45 AM:

" I believe the adjectives used to describe Sheriff Summers are incredibly accurate. I am surprised that some of the other candidates who are running are doing so based on their track records. To be the Sheriff, you MUST be trustworthy and honest. If the public, fellow officers and people who comprise the system of justice are unable to count on your truthfulness, it would be devastating to Calhoun County. If you want a Sheriff who will tell you what you want to hear and change his mind and opinions with the wind, DO NOT vote for Sheriff Summers. If you want a Sheriff who will stand by his word, Sheriff Summers is the ONLY choice. "

watchfuleye wrote on Jan 12, 2008 5:25 PM:

" Daniel - not sure about all the adjectives you used to describe Summers. YOu may want to look into some of them.
"

chascanaday wrote on Jan 11, 2008 12:42 PM:

" I agree that Calhoun County is a safe place to live, but it is certainly not crime free. We need a new Sheriff who will work to address the needs of the county as a whole. "

thomas1 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 7:12 AM:

" No, this Thomas is from Sandy Run. I am a Republican but in the case of Summers I am a Dem. - Thomas Summers has gone out of his way to make sure our area is crime free. I can call and talk with him any day of the week if there is a problem. I hope people will show him appreciation for the long hours he puts in to make our county safer. "

CavalierFan wrote on Jan 9, 2008 5:07 PM:

" Daniel, I wonder if you have actually reviewed the resumes of all five potential candidates. I admit that Chris Golden is lacking in years of service, but the other three have an abundance of experience. Keep in mind too that you have to consider more than just years; I know that one candidate in particular has experience in law enforcement that even Thomas Summers cannot claim. I read the bio on his website and was surprised myself. Voters need to educate themselves for this election; it really matters. "

ConcernedMother wrote on Jan 8, 2008 1:06 PM:

" Summers won the election last time because he was up against Bing Jones and AJ Logan..there was no "good" choice...there is a real choice this year! Let's see who wins without the mud slinging...

hmm...

wonder who is trampling who's signs in the county? "

rgncamsc wrote on Jan 7, 2008 9:37 PM:

" SHERIFF LOGAN?????? COME ON...GIVE ME A BREAK!!! WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WHEN THERES A BURGLARY????? WRITE THEM A SEATBELT TICKET!!!! "

Daniel wrote on Jan 7, 2008 8:55 PM:

" Review the resumes of all candidates and you will find the current Sheriff Thomas Summers has the most experience and is the best suited for the job. He has proven to be the most caring, compassionate, honest, sincere, loyal and dedicated Sheriff in the history of Calhoun County. Sheriff Summers leadership skills and devotion to duty are the finest Calhoun County will ever find in a Sheriff.

He is the real deal and a true friend of the citizens of Calhoun County.

"

towngirl wrote on Jan 7, 2008 6:29 PM:

" Go, Thomas1!! Would that be Thomas as in Thomas Summers?? Huhhhh??? Perhaps this is just a coincident...LOL, Anyhow, change is sometimes good. I don't know anything about either candidate. However, I will be watching this race closely. "

supergirl wrote on Jan 7, 2008 6:18 PM:

" Thomas1, trust me when I say it is time for a change. I was part of that 80% last time. I will be voting for a change this time because things are broken. "

thomas1 wrote on Jan 7, 2008 3:39 PM:

" In my opinion there is a reason Summers won with 80% of the vote last time. You don't mess with something if it ain't broke. "

chascanaday wrote on Jan 7, 2008 9:52 AM:

" This race is already shaping up to be remarkably contentious, with Thomas Summers and AJ Logan battling it out again. As most people in Calhoun County are aware, there are numerous other people running for Sheriff in 2008, and signs are popping up all over the county already. Even though candidates won't file officially until March, five people have openly stated that they plan to run, including current Sheriff Thomas Summers, A.J. Logan, previous Sheriff Bing Jones, former Deputy Chris Golden (currently an officer with the St. Matthews Police Department), and former Deputy Lin Shirer (currently with the Elloree Police Department). Shirer is the only one with a website that I could find so far. It is www.shirerforsheriff.com. This race is definitely one to watch... "

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Logan mounts second challenge to Summers

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