Residents React to Sheriff Woolfork’s Decision Not to Resign
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn.- Madison County voters said they have mixed emotions about Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork’s decision not to resign by the 5 o’clock deadline, Monday. “Well I just think it’s a bad thing, I think he should have,” said resident Eva Whitman. “Anybody that you know has done this, he is supposed to be upholding the law, this is just not right.” “I think we all make mistakes in life and folks should be forgiving,” said resident Donald Tucker. “We have got to have a strong law enforcement and the sheriff of this county that they are trying to ouster is the man that has done an excellent job over the last 19 years.” The County Commission gave Sheriff Woolfork an ultimatum to resign within 7 days. If the sheriff did not resign by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 25, commissioners ordered to have the county attorney Steve Maroney to file an ouster lawsuit. Officials said it is unclear how long that process will take or exactly how much it will cost. “I think they should use that money on something we really need instead of using it on something that’s really wasteful,” said resident Paula Smith. ” I just don’t think people will feel the same about him being the sheriff. People have lost their trust in him.” The county’s independent investigation into two sexual harassment claims made against the sheriff by Deputy Sharon Sangster and Lt. Lisa Baldarrama, found that the sheriff violated the county’s sexual harassment police. No criminal charges have been filed against the Sheriff. “I think he’s fighting to clear his name, definitely his reputation at whatever cost and that’s sad, ” said resident Ashley Thurmond. “I think you’re innocent until proven guilty and one of the things we are quick to do around here is to say that a man is guilty when you read the newspaper that something has happened,” said Tucker. “All of a sudden these women are coming out of the woodwork, why didn’t they come forward before? If he is proven guilty through the court… then I think it would then be appropriate for the committee to ouster him but before that time I think they need to give him his due process and let him go through the process that America is built on.” If the sheriff is indeed ousted, state officials said the would still be able to run for office again, as long as he was not convicted of a crime. Earlier this year, Sheriff Woolfork did indicate that he intended to seek another term.
