Sheriff Reggie Nevels
Served 2015 to 2022
Nevels announces candidacy for Sheriff
Reggie Nevels has wanted to become sheriff for his whole life. Saturday, the detective sergeant with the Grant County Sheriff’s Department officially announced his intent to run for sheriff.
More than 100 people gathered in Roseburg Event Center, 2983 W. 38th St., on Saturday afternoon to support Nevels’ campaign for Grant County sheriff.
Among Nevels’ supporters Saturday was former Grant County Sheriff Oatess Archey, who traveled to Marion from his home in California for the occasion. Archey, the first black sheriff in the state, indicated that he was not focused on being the first black sheriff when he ran for the office. “I was interested in being the best sheriff,” he said.
If elected, Nevels would become the county’s second black sheriff. Nevels also serves as a Marion City Council member from Ward 6. Archey indicated that many people who came to support Nevels on Saturday also supported him when he ran for sheriff.
Grant County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Kevin Pauley announced his candidacy for sheriff in January. The primary for the sheriff’s election is in May 2014. Archey said that Nevels came to him while he was sheriff and voiced his desire to attend Backster School of Lie Detection in San Diego, Calif., which Archey described as the “Harvard of polygraph schools.” Nevels was sent
to the school and completed the training, competing against students from around the world. “He’s recognized statewide for his polygraph abilities,” Archey said.
Nevels graduated from Marion High School in 1979 and from Ball State University in 1983, where he majored in criminal justice and corrections.He reportedly joined the Grant County Sheriff’s Department in 1984 and has been with the department for 29 years. Nevels, a detective sergeant, has also reportedly served as a jail officer, inmate work crew supervisor and member of the SWAT team. Archey, who served as the introduction speaker Saturday, read a list of local organizations and boards on which Nevels has served. “What (Nevels) has done with his life is unbelievable,” Archey said. Nevels looked up to Amos Randle, the city’s first black police chief, as well as others when he was young, Archey said. He said that Nevels is “an ethical person,” and said that he is honored to endorse Nevels for Grant County sheriff.
Deidra Lindsay, a cousin of Nevels’ wife, Vickie, came to support Nevels on Saturday. “He’s a (really) honest and fair person,” she said. Archey described Nevels as being “no-nonsense,” but also having a constant smile on his face — except when he is conducting a polygraph test. “This is serious business being sheriff,” Archey told attendees Saturday. Nevels thanked his friends, family and supporters during his speech. He began by thanking Jesus, his Lord and Savior. Nevels indicated that, if elected, he plans to use his knowledge and experience to serve all people in Grant County. “This is the right time for me to run for sheriff,” he said. Nevels said that he has a “proven track record,” and indicated that he has gained experience from the leaders whom he has worked for at the department. “(Those) men are the ones that know what it takes to run (a) sheriff’s department,” he said.
Jonathan Perez, chief of staff for Mayor Wayne Seybold, is chairperson for Nevels’ election committee. Perez said that he agreed to serve in that position for Nevels about five years ago.
“This is something he’s been talking about for years,” Perez said. Citing the sheriff candidate’s “character and integrity,” Perez said that Nevels can “bring everybody to the table.” City Controller Tammy Miller will serve as treasurer for Nevels’ campaign. She indicated that Nevels’ wealth of knowledge and experience makes him the best candidate for sheriff. In the next few weeks, campaign members will plan ideas to raise funds, she said. Cards were available at Saturday’s announcement for attendees to pledge to serve on Nevels’ election committee or do other tasks such as make phone calls, write letters, stuff envelopes and put up signs.
Nevels has money edge in the race for sheriff
Financial reports turned in by the three candidates for sheriff show that Reggie Nevels raised more than three times the amount the other two raised in 2013. Wednesday was the deadline to file contributions and expenditures for the period of Jan. 1, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2013. Sheriff’s candidates Jay Kay, Kevin Pauley and Nevels all filed their reports on Wednesday. Though Marion Police Deputy Chief David Day publically announced last year that he was running for the top seat at the sheriff’s department, he hasn’t officially filed or turned in a financial report.
The records show Nevels had about $21,700 in contributions and receipts in 2013, and he spent about $12,700, leaving about $9,000 in unspent monies entering the new year. Nevels, currently a detective sergeant at the sheriff’s department and Marion City Council member, said Wednesday the unspent amount has now increased to about $12,000, which he plans to spend on signs, ads and events before May, while continuing to raise more money.
Key donors include David and Lisa Compton, who gave $5,000 to the campaign. The city council voted in August to give the Comptons a property tax abatement for their business Lein Corporation, at 436 W. 34th St. Other donors include Crest Lanes owner Kerry Clevenger, who gave $500, and Chuck’s Sewer and Drain, which gave $500. “On our end, it’s going very well,” he said. “The money is coming in, and a lot of people are showing a lot of interest in our campaign and they like what we are doing.”
Pauley, a captain at the sheriff’s department, opened his exploratory committee in September 2012 and began raising funds then. Entering 2013, he had already raised about $2,700. He added about $7,400 to that amount last year and spent $8,500, leaving almost $1,600 of unspent money at the beginning of 2014. Most of his contributions were not itemized on the report, but it showed Sheriff Darrell Himelick as donating $500 and also paying $225 for an ad. Himelick is Pauley’s campaign manager. “I’m hearing a lot of good comments from citizens in Grant County that I have their support,” Pauley said. “It’s been a busy road so far up to this point, but I think things are going well. I wouldn’t change anything. I believe we announced early enough to get our name out there and get some finances.” Pauley declared his candidacy in January and Nevels announced in April.
The third candidate to enter the race was Marion Police Detective Capt. Kay, who announced in December. According to Kay’s finance report, he received about $2,540, including $479
of his own money that he spent, in 2013, leaving more than $2,000 left to spend entering 2014. Key donors include former Grant County Prosecutor Stephen Johnson, who gave $500. Johnson’s son, Marion Fire Investigator Robert Johnson, a former fire chief in Marion, also donated to the campaign. “I’m just sort of getting started,” he said. “I announced on Dec. 14 and then
got through the holidays, so I just started here in January. I’m just now getting out and doing some things.” Kay had his first fundraiser — a soup supper — on Wednesday night in Hontz Hall. He said he didn’t have a goal in mind for how much he’d like to raise. “I came out and announced after learning that a lot of people had already started making commitments (to other candidates), and I understand that,” he said. “I just want to put my name out there and be considered and give it my all on the campaign.” He said it takes a lot of money to run in the race, especially when there are multiple candidates. He said he’s no expert in the political scene or with raising money, and he realizes that he’s not going to be able to sell himself to people he doesn’t know in just over three months. “I fall back on my 33-year career,” he said. “I live on my reputation. I’m out there, and I’m willing to meet the people. I’m in this primary election to win.”
Pauley also said it requires a lot of money to be sheriff. “With the economy and everything, the money just isn’t out there like it was years before for other candidates, so it’s really a struggle,” he said. “Money just helps you get what you need in office, but it’s not everything. Getting what I stand for out in the public is much more important to me than raising money, even though we do need campaign contributions.” He said typically people don’t like to give large amounts of money before the primary and tend to give afterward before the general election. Candidates also have the financial support of their political party after the primary.
But in this race the primary is important because there are multiple candidates running on the same ticket, he said. No Democrats have filed for sheriff so far. Nevels said he isn’t worried about anyone else joining the race. “We’re making ourselves visible to the community,” he said. “I’m going to run a clean campaign, and I’m looking forward to the outcome.” Candidates who filed their candidacy on Wednesday were:
Republican Mike Scott for county council for District 1.
Democrat Danny Walls from Franklin Township trustee.
Republicans Pamala K. Buteau and Angie Weaver Lewis for Franklin Township Board. Lewis also filed for state convention delegate.
Democrat Elrie Armes for Mill Township Trustee.
Republicans Charles (Charlie) Armes and Harold McCollum for Mill Township Board.
Republican Judith E. Solms for Fairmount Town Council at-large.
Nevels wins primary election
Grant County Sheriff Detective Sgt. Reggie Nevels Sr. won the sheriff race in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
According to unofficial results, Nevels won with 36.67 percent (2,451 votes) of the votes. There were 6,684 votes total.
Nevels, a city council member in Marion, was born and raised in Grant County. He credited his success in the election to his supporters. “God is good,” he said. “I have to thank my campaign manager, citizens that believe in my campaign and my supporters. All the candidates were qualified and had to work extremely hard.”
Nevels said he is glad he won. “I feel good,” he said. “I am exhausted because these last several weeks I have put a lot of energy into the race. We were very successful and shifted into high gear. My campaign manager told us what we needed to do to come out of the race successfully. We came together and the result speaks for itself.”
While there is currently no Democratic challenger, he said he is looking forward to the November general election. “I will continue to raise money for the campaign and doing what we have
in our agenda,” he said. “Our team ran a clean race.”
Marion Police Department Capt. Jay Kay placed second in the primary race. According to unofficial results Kay, finished with 28.74 percent (1,921 votes). Kay said campaigning was new to him.
“It was an experience for me,” he said. “I’m not a politician. Getting out and speaking was a little awkward for me. I can’t sell myself in three months if I haven’t in 33-and-a-half years. I gave it my best shot.” Kay said he will retire in May 2015 from the department and search for another job. “I have truly enjoyed this job,” he said. “I still have a heart to serve. I have experience that will be of use somewhere.” He said the race was filled with qualified candidates. “I think it was a great race,” Kay. “It was a bunch of great guys running. We could offer Grant County options. The voters have spoken. I wish (Nevels) the best.” Kay said he has no intentions of running for any office again.
Grant County Sheriff Capt. Kevin Pauley came in third. According to unofficial results, Pauley had 27.24 percent (1,821 votes) of the votes. “I’m disappointed; I don’t know what else we could have done,” he said. “We campaigned for a long time, we covered east to west, but I’m glad we went through it. Somebody has to win, somebody has to lose. I just congratulate Nevels in his victory.” Pauley said he will keep doing his job. “I will continue to work hard for Grant County citizens,” he said. Pauley said he doesn't anticipate any problems working with Nevels after
the election. “I don’t see any issues,” he said. “This morning we were exchanging texts and wishing each other the best of luck. Just because we are seeking the same position doesn't take away from that friendship. Reggie knows that I will continue to do a good job.” Pauley plans to retire in May 2017 and said he will not run again. “I will spend more time with my grandchildren,” he said.
Marion Police Department Deputy Chief Day had 7.35 percent (491 votes) of votes. Day has called Grant County home since 1984. He said the race has taught him what is important. “The race was kind of hard for me since the first day,” he said. “Throughout the process I learned important stuff like the importance of my family, the people that really care about me and being true to myself and my values.” Day said he was able to reflect on the important values during his campaign. “Part of my campaign I spent a lot of time walking and knocking on doors,” he said. “There is a lot of time to think about stuff. As the campaign unfolded a lot of things became pretty clear.” He said he doesn't know if he will run again. “I didn't give up,” Day said. “Obviously this is not the result I would have chosen. I thought it would be more competitive. I got name recognition. It can always be a possibility in the future. I am a lot younger than the other guys. I could wait a couple terms and still not be as old as them.” Day said that he will continue to do his job. “I still have my job and a job to do,” he said. “I have people that I’m responsible for and I will continue to do that to the best of my ability. I wish Reggie Nevels best of luck in what’s going to be a tough job.”
Nevels currently does not have a Democratic opponent for the November general elections. The new sheriff takes office in January of 2015.
