Edward W. Nixon

Edward Nixon to run as Democrat in race to replace Whisante
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Edward W. Nixon says he wants to be sheriff of Madison County simply because he is confident he can do a good job.

The office doesn't lack honesty or professionalism under the current sheriff, Nixon said.But he believes he has the experience and the skills to take over for incumbent Sheriff Joe W. Whisante.
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Nixon said he is reluctant to say what he will change without first studying and evaluating the current operations of the department.

However, he wants to sharpen the department so it will qualify for accreditation under nationally recognized performance standards.

Nixon, 60, has filed papers in the Madison County Probate Court naming his campaign committee.He will run in the Democratic Party's primary election in June.He will face opposition from Chester ''Mac'' McCutcheon, a Huntsville Municipal Court probation officer, and Huntsville businessman William T. ''Tom'' Newby.

Nixon, a Guntersville native, pinned on a badge for the first time more than 40 years ago, when he joined the Air Force and volunteered for duty as a military police officer.From 1960 to 1970, Nixon patrolled some of the nation's most important military bases.

When he left the Air Force, Nixon was a police dispatcher for a few months with the Huntsville Police Department.He got a job as a patrol officer in 1971.Over the years, Nixon has been assigned to several units in the department including special operations, SWAT and criminal investigations.

He has served more than 20 years of his 31-year city career as a supervisor.He is currently over the city jail, the police academy, training operations, 911 communications, the records division, computer services and the police chaplain program.

Nixon received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Montevallo in 1978 and a master's degree in justice and public safety from Auburn University in Montgomery in 1998.

He is married and has six grown children.

© The Huntsville Times.Used with permission.

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