Decision 2024: Meet Ty Ben Matthews, candidate for Peach County Sheriff
Early voting began on October 15 and ends on November 1. Election day is November 5.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –Robert “Buck” Shannon and Ty Ben Matthews are on the ballot for Peach County Sheriff.
41NBC’s Monica Diaz-Meek spoke with Ty Ben Matthews ahead of the November 5 election.
Candidate name: Ty Ben Matthews
Running for: Peach County Sheriff
Campaign Website: Facebook
MONICA- Welcome back. Today we have time Ty Matthews, who is running for Peach County Sheriff, joining us. Thank you for being here today.
TY- Thank you for having me.
MONICA- We are so close to Election Day and I have a few questions for you. First off, if you’re elected, what do you plan on doing? Is there anything you would change?What do you want to implement?
TY- We’ll take a whole look at the sheriff’s office to make sure that it’s being run in the best way. That benefits the citizens of Peach County. That they’re getting the most for their for their tax dollar. And that evaluation will take place, you know, hopefully, have a chance before, sworn in. But then, you know, it’ll roll over into the the first few days of my administration.
MONICA- Why are you the best candidate for Peach County Sheriff?
TY- I have 32 years of experience. I spent eight years in the United States Army before that got out to the Gulf War. I was supposed to be the Kentucky state trooper, new governor came in, put a hiring freeze on, and, my family, I was married, and, my family, her family was from Georgia. In the Crisp County area. And we were on vacation and got down here and got talking and met the chief of police for the city of Cordele. And, he said, you know, you need to put in an application. I need to hire you. Went through the hiring process about eight, nine months and, became a law enforcement officer.
I spent 15 years city of Cordele, and retired as a staff sergeant and came up to, Fort Valley. So I went to work for Fort Valley PD and, and was one of the first promoted lieutenants under a new chief and, spent five years there. And when the chief left and some things were changing, I felt there was some other things best for my career. And so I left. I’m now currently the chief of police for the city of Roberta. I’ve been there eight and a half going on nine years. I’m also the sitting second Vice President for the Georgia Association Chiefs of Police. I was elected by my peers, which is a great honor. Very humbling honor. And and I have my whole career. I have I have pushed myself to strive and into training and everything to get to where I’m at.
And as I’ve said throughout this campaign, that there is one difference between my opponent and I is that, on January 1st, when I’m elected and sworn in, I’m the one person who can walk into that office, and I have the knowledge, training and experience to run the office of sheriff. From day one, I won’t be behind the power curve. I will be doing exactly what the citizens of Peach County elected me to do.
MONICA- So right now, this year, we have seen record breaking voter turnout across the board. And we’re seeing it in Peach County, across the state of Georgia. What does that mean to you? Why is that so important this election?
TY- Well, it’s always important that people exercise their vote. It’s the one is what makes our constitutional republic. You know what it is? It belongs to the people. And that’s how I feel that the office of sheriff is. It’s not my office. It belongs to the people, Peach County. We’ll just be the one being elected. And I’ll be the steward to run that office in the best way and make sure that that the citizens of Peach County are, are being treated fairly and and being protected and, and not having the constitutional rights violated.
MONICA– And if you are elected, what are people going to see immediately? What changes would you make to Peach County?
TY- For one, we’re going to be transparent from from top to bottom. I will be a sheriff. I’ve said this. I will be a sheriff. My number will be on the website. You won’t have to call a secretary. You won’t have to go through a chief deputy. You’ll be able to call your sheriff immediately, and I’ll return your call. Also, if there’s something going on in your neighborhood, you’re not going to come to my office. We’re not going to make an appointment. The sheriff is going to come to you. The sheriff is going to find out what’s going on. That’s the way that that we’re going to be.
We are going to be an office of the people we serve. We’re going to be transparent when mistakes are made. We’re going to own up to those mistakes, and we’re going to let the people know what we are doing so that those mistakes don’t happen again in full transparency. And we don’t see that a lot. We don’t see that a lot. It’s changing. You’re seeing it now more, but, but I believe that’s one of the things that will really make a difference for Peach County.
MONICA- Well, thank you so much.
