Five file for Barry County Sheriff position opening seat in 2017
March 2, 2016
Charlea Estes
After county seat filings opened on Tuesday, February 23, five candidates have entered their names in the running for Barry County Sheriff beginning in 2017.
Since longtime Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly announced that he would not be seeking reelection in the August 2 election, there has been much speculation as to who will replace him. So far, five men have entered their names in the running, all on Republican ballots: Travis Hilburn, James Smith, Danny Boyd, Justin Fohn and Terry Meek. All five candidates have experience in law enforcement in Barry County.
Smith, of Aurora, has been commissioned with Barry County since 1993 and has been a full-time police officer for 16 years. He is a former Barry County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy and currently serves with the Cassville Police Department. This is Smith’s seventh year with Cassville.
When asked why he is running for Sheriff, Smith said, “I want to see the department prosper. We have great guys, but they need some direction and training. This is for the citizens of Barry County to have good quality law enforcement.”
Terry Meek, of Washburn, has been in law enforcement for 13 years with the majority of that time with the Barry County Sheriff’s office. Meek said that he has focused on several areas of investigation, including forgery, fraud, assault as well as child abuse and neglect cases.
Meek stated, “I decided to run because I wanted to continue with some of the values that Sheriff [Epperly] has instilled and continue in the protection of the county. I want to serve and protect the citizens to the best of my ability.”
Boyd, of Purdy, currently works as an investigator with the Cassville Police Department, where he has been for eight years. Prior to that he worked as a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper for nine years. Boyd also served briefly with the Barry County Sheriff’s Department and for a year and a half with the Monett Police Department.
Boyd said that serving as Sheriff has been a lifelong goal, but the timing didn’t work out in the past. “In the last eight years, I always wanted to run, but before, I was a single parent with three small children, and my family needed me. Then I didn’t feel like I could give the county my 100 percent like I can now. This is my lifelong goal, I want to serve the county.”
Justin Fohn, of Cassville, has been with the Cassville Police Department since 2012. He also worked for the City of Exeter from 2011 to 2013.
Fohn issued this statement: “After being involved with law enforcement in Barry County, I have noticed a great need for a unified justice system incorporating all area law enforcement with the citizens of Barry County.
“I strongly believe that a Sheriff’s Office built on honesty and integrity will provide a safe and beautiful place to live for he citizens of Barry County while maintaining transparent and accountability to the voters of Barry County.”
Travis Hilburn, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, could not be reached for comment at the time of press.
Voting for Barry County Sheriff will be on the August 2, 2016, ballot. Candidates have until March 29 to file.
Charlea Estes
After county seat filings opened on Tuesday, February 23, five candidates have entered their names in the running for Barry County Sheriff beginning in 2017.
Since longtime Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly announced that he would not be seeking reelection in the August 2 election, there has been much speculation as to who will replace him. So far, five men have entered their names in the running, all on Republican ballots: Travis Hilburn, James Smith, Danny Boyd, Justin Fohn and Terry Meek. All five candidates have experience in law enforcement in Barry County.
Smith, of Aurora, has been commissioned with Barry County since 1993 and has been a full-time police officer for 16 years. He is a former Barry County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy and currently serves with the Cassville Police Department. This is Smith’s seventh year with Cassville.
When asked why he is running for Sheriff, Smith said, “I want to see the department prosper. We have great guys, but they need some direction and training. This is for the citizens of Barry County to have good quality law enforcement.”
Terry Meek, of Washburn, has been in law enforcement for 13 years with the majority of that time with the Barry County Sheriff’s office. Meek said that he has focused on several areas of investigation, including forgery, fraud, assault as well as child abuse and neglect cases.
Meek stated, “I decided to run because I wanted to continue with some of the values that Sheriff [Epperly] has instilled and continue in the protection of the county. I want to serve and protect the citizens to the best of my ability.”
Boyd, of Purdy, currently works as an investigator with the Cassville Police Department, where he has been for eight years. Prior to that he worked as a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper for nine years. Boyd also served briefly with the Barry County Sheriff’s Department and for a year and a half with the Monett Police Department.
Boyd said that serving as Sheriff has been a lifelong goal, but the timing didn’t work out in the past. “In the last eight years, I always wanted to run, but before, I was a single parent with three small children, and my family needed me. Then I didn’t feel like I could give the county my 100 percent like I can now. This is my lifelong goal, I want to serve the county.”
Justin Fohn, of Cassville, has been with the Cassville Police Department since 2012. He also worked for the City of Exeter from 2011 to 2013.
Fohn issued this statement: “After being involved with law enforcement in Barry County, I have noticed a great need for a unified justice system incorporating all area law enforcement with the citizens of Barry County.
“I strongly believe that a Sheriff’s Office built on honesty and integrity will provide a safe and beautiful place to live for he citizens of Barry County while maintaining transparent and accountability to the voters of Barry County.”
Travis Hilburn, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, could not be reached for comment at the time of press.
Voting for Barry County Sheriff will be on the August 2, 2016, ballot. Candidates have until March 29 to file.
