Fourth write-in candidate files for Whitley Jailer spot

The race to become Whitley County’s next jailer has now increased to six people, including four write-in candidates.

Jan Lambdin-Mills, 46, of Highway 204, filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate Friday afternoon in the Whitley County Clerk’s Office.

She joins Glenda Young, Jonah Rice and Melinda Moses as write-in candidates in the Nov. 8 special election for Whitley County Jailer.

Mills said she is running for office because she thinks she can make a difference.

"I think it is a job that I would like to do, or at least try. I think I would be a good jailer," she said.

Mills has worked in politics for nearly 16 years.

"I guess I’m like any other candidates that have never been a jailer before. Of course I would be green behind the ears, but very eager to learn," she said.

What does she hope to accomplish as jailer?

"I actually would have to wait until I got there to see what all exactly was going on," Mills said. "I would make sure that the right hand and left hand knows what each other is doing."

Mills said that she would use any resources available to help inmates with problems they might have, if they choose to seek help.

"I would run an efficient, clean jail. I’m a conservative. I think there would be ways that money could be saved," she added.

Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz said that there are a record number of write-in candidates for this race, and a record number of candidates for a special called election. Normally, there is only one write-in candidate at most in any election.

Joe Allen Fuson is the Democratic nominee, and interim Jailer Ken Mobley is the Republican nominee.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. appointed Mobley as interim jailer on Jan. 10 following the resignation of Les Moses, who quit after nine days on the job.

Mobley lost the May 2010 Republican primary for jailer to Les Moses by a margin of 717 votes. Mobley left office on Jan. 2, 2011 when his term expired.

The November race will be to fill out the remainder of Les Moses’ term in office.

Write-in candidates for jailer have until Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. to file in the county clerk’s office.

In order to serve as jailer, a person has to be at least 24 years old, must have lived in the state for two years and in the county for at least one year prior to assuming office.

"A write-in can file, and they do not even have to have anyone sign for them to run," Schwartz said. "They can come into my office and fill out the papers."

In order to cast a vote for a write in candidate, with the paper ballots now in use, voters merely mark the box by write-in in the race and write in the name of the candidate, she said.