Sheriff Stacy Nicholson announced to Ellijay media outlets on Tuesday that he will be seeking re-election for a third term this year. Nicholson, a Republican and a lifelong resident of Gilmer County, is a 21-year veteran of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office and was first elected in 2004. Nicholson, 40, lives with his wife, Cynthia, and 3 children in the Cartecay area. They are all members of Sunlight Baptist Church.

Nicholson states that his top priorities for the next four years are simple. The Sheriff vows to continue upholding the same level of service and professionalism that has gained tremendous support for he and his office in the last seven plus years.

His office sought and received its state certification in 2008, becoming the 12th Sheriff’s Office in the state to have this distinction out of 159 counties. The Sheriff’s Office received its recertification in 2011 without any difficulties which ensures the citizens that the office is operating at the highest level of professionalism.

“Our state certification program is the foundation of our commitment to operational accountability to the citizens of the community. It sets the standard for our day-to-day operations, our training programs, and our community educational programs,”

says Nicholson.

Nicholson says that fiscal accountability to the citizens will continue to be right at the top of his priorities, not under, but right beside professionalism. Nicholson said that the toughest job he has ever faced was managing to maintain the level of service and professionalism that Gilmer’s citizens have come to expect while facing the budget restraints he has had to deal with. The Sheriff’s Office, which includes the patrolmen, detectives, court security, jail operations, E-911, and animal control, has reduced its’ budgets by $1.5 million in the last three years.

“A misconception is that our budget of over $4 million includes just my patrolmen and detectives, but it includes all of the ‘divisions of units’ that I control.”

Nicholson said,

“In managing our operation during these lean economic times, I have had to make some tough decisions that impacted my employees such as parking cars of the deputies who live outside Gilmer County. In addition, county employees haven’t had raises in going on 5 years. We have lost some employees due to this, but we have been able to maintain our operations exceptionally well due to the commitment of the men and women that give me 110% every day.”

Nicholson said that he will continue to work very closely with the Board of Commissioners.

“I am committed to keeping an appropriate level of ‘boots on the ground’ personnel to ensure service and protection to the citizens, therefore, personnel cuts that have been made have been supervisory and administrative positions. We are utilizing volunteer staff from our first Citizens’ Law Enforcement Academy to replace some administrative positions.”

“I am committed to continue the fight against drugs in our community which destroys so many lives and leads to other crimes by supporting the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force both financially, as well as, with manpower from my deputies and detectives. We have made a substantial impact on the fight against methamphetamine with strong enforcement and community educational programs we have sponsored,”

Nicholson said.

Nicholson added,

“We also will continue to combat property crimes wholeheartedly by keeping our alert deputies visible and our detectives aggressively following leads to solve crimes”.

Nicholson, recognized as a leader by his peers, was elected as a regional Vice President within the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association in 2010. He serves on the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors and has served on the Training and Standards Committee within the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association since he took office in 2005. Nicholson also serves on several community action committees within Gilmer County.

Sheriff Nicholson has launched a re-election website as well as a re-election page on Facebook. The website address is www.nicholson4sheriff2012.com. The Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/nicholson4sheriff