FARMINGTON – Tom White said he has proven experience as a grant-writer for the sheriff’s department and he intends to continue this trend if elected as the county’s highest law enforcement official.

He successfully wrote proposals for five federally funded grants that were used to combat heroin and other narcotics problems in the county, he said. If elected, he plans to form a team to explore grants and other funding opportunities for the department.

White also wants to concentrate on training by revising policy manuals and personalizing training plans for each employee to fit their needs and the department’s.

“Jail overcrowding is a critical issue,” he said. “The staff is stressed, and the building and infrastructure is being pushed to the limits.”

White thinks that the inmate population needs to be analyzed, saying that jail may not be the most appropriate setting for inmates with mental health problems.

He believes that although the department’s budget runs lean now, there may be ways to make further cuts by consulting with other agencies in the state for cost-saving ideas.

White said he feels that the department, with an operating budget of more than $2 million and a staff numbering more than 40, needs to be run like a large company with a business plan.

“The sheriff and his command staff need to be planning and forecasting where we are going and how we will get there,” he said.

“My experience in private business and my many accomplishments as a law enforcement officer makes me the most qualified candidate,” he said. “I am not telling you what I will do, I am doing what should be done right now,” he said in a written statement.