LINDEN, TN - Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems announced his bid for re-election Wednesday, in a statement released to WOPC. The statement comes ahead of a spring primary with the general election in late fall. Here is the complete statement: 

"When you read the words "Re-Elect" a lot of things may come to mind. I ask people to look at the - in those words. That is where all the important details are hidden. For every candidate, between the campaign trail and the next election, is the dash. 

I have been your Sheriff for over 10 years and have served Perry County for 23 years in Law Enforcement. 

I have worked hard during my tenure  to follow my campaign promises and I strive to deliver a better department every day. 

 

Since taking office I have filled my "dash" with budget accountability, higher salaries for the men and women who serve your community, new patrol units, a wood shop program for inmate recidivism, GED programs, numerous grants  and and the list goes on. This Sheriff's Office SERVES and PROTECTS this community.
 

With our litter program reaching its 10 year anniversary, countless tons of litter has been removed from our roadsides. Our inmate mowing program currently services 90 cemeteries in Perry County. Our firewood program is heating the homes of over 50 families in need. I have expanded the protections of the school from just one SRO, to having a deputy at every school in our county. I have put Nightlock devices and trauma kits in every classroom in Perry county. My SROs provide security for every in-county game and we are proud to provide that security for every family and student that attends. We also provide all the security for our Judges, clerks and courthouse employees. These are just some of the things I am proud of in my dash. This is what it looks like to have a Department that serves their community. 
 

Perry County is blessed to have great deputies. Our department has over 265 years of collective experience.  All of these deputies are hand selected by myself and Chief Rosson. It is my honor to serve them, as much as our citizens. A Sheriff holds the physical and financial safety of almost 50 employees and it isn’t something I take lightly.  You need experience to lead the experienced. 
 

Anyone who puts on the badge knows the weight. Law enforcement all across this state have been libeled, slandered, and sued. In 2016-2022 TN departments had over 7,000 lawsuits.  As the political climate polarizes and the landscape changes, it’s important to stay true to what law enforcement is all about, and that is serving and protecting the people who reside in Perry County. I plan to continue to support my deputies and serve my constituents, even when it gets hard.  
 

The dash is the never ending phone calls, problem-solving and decision-making. It’s about taking time away from family and doing the work that never gets seen. It's the delivery of bad news and making the hardest decisions you will ever be faced with.  It is the grit and courage to look people and their families in the eye, even after you've had to discipline or terminate an employee and sometimes it’s having to arrest your own family. It's never an easy task, but the work must go on. It's balancing budgets, search and rescue, herding livestock one day and going to the Capitol the next. It's all about delegating and negotiating to do what is right for Perry County. 
 

My "dash" is filled with accomplishments I will forever be proud of. My dash is filled with protecting our school children, grants to save this county money, higher salaries and a stronger and more efficient budget. My dash is filled with more police protection, a new radio communications system and new patrol cars. It is  filled with record drug busts and a state of the art firing range.  My dash if filled with a network of Sheriffs and Chiefs across the state that I call friends. My dash has a loyal, strong team behind me. Trust me when I say, there is more to come.   
 

This election cycle may bring an opponent, but I welcome that. Competition is always good, because it helps keep you humble and it helps keep you focused. Some people run because they truly think they can do a better job than those holding the position. That is a great thing for our community. I love seeing people strive for ways to serve their citizens.  Some people run because they overlook the "dash" and just focus on the title. 
 

I humbly ask the citizens of Perry County for their vote of confidence in me once again. As long as I am your Sheriff I will continue to strive for a better, safer community.  I will continue to fight for the protection of our schools and I promise to continue to always do the best I can.  Thank you for supporting me and helping me add so much to my dash. It’s an honor." (End statement) 

 

As hinted in the statement, Weems faces a challenger, Lauren Smoyer, a former deputy of the department. Smoyer recently made her announcement on social media.