HENDERSON (KYTX) -- Voters will decide the republican nominee for Rusk County Sheriff tomorrow. That race is between Darryl Norris and Jeff Price. The winner will face the democratic opponent in November. But Norris is also facing a mysterious misdemeanor charge for phone harassment. CBS 19's Abby Broyles spoke with both candidates today and joins us from the Rusk County Sheriff's Department in Henderson.
The two candidates running to head up this department each have more than 20 years experience working in law enforcement in Rusk County. Now Darryl Norris and Jeff Price are hoping voters show up to the polls tomorrow to elect them the next Rusk County Sheriff.
Republican candidate Darryl Norris is currently a road and bridge administrator for Rusk County. He worked for the Rusk County Sheriff's Department from 1988 to 2009.
"I worked Rusk County for over 21 years, enjoyed it and I'm ready to get back to it," Darryl Norris said.
Norris is facing Henderson Police Lieutenant Jeff Price in Tuesday's runoff. Price has been with Henderson PD for 27 years. He says he'll bring leadership to the sheriff's department.
"I've been in administration the past 15 years, I have very good people skills, good working relationships with the officers," Price said.
The candidates finished closely in the 5-way election in May - Norris came out on top by about 2 percent.
Norris is hoping now a recent phone harassment charge filed against him won't taint his chances Tuesday. He tells us he doesn't even know who filed the complaint in June or who's handling the investigation against him.
"Anybody can accuse anybody of anything, that's what it boils down to," Norris says, "it's kind of funny it just now comes out, I'm not sure on all the details and I'm not real concerned about it, I'm not worried about it."
Both candidates say if elected, they'll work closely with other law enforcement agencies within the county.
"I want to have a good solid working relationship with the constables, with the police departments, with the Marshall's offices in some of the cities, to have everyone working as a team," Price said.
"I plan on, if elected, going around to these agencies once a month if I can or as much as they need me to, check with them, see what they need and how we can help them and how they can help us," Norris said.
The winner tomorrow will go on to face Democrat Oscar Still in the general election in November.
That phone harassment charge against Norris was originally filed with Henderson police. But the case was moved to another, unnamed agency, since price works with Henderson police.
Incumbent sheriff Danny Pirtle isn't seeking re-election due to health problems.
