COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County resident Clay Ivey has officially announced his candidacy for the 2020 Newton County Sheriff election. 

"I would love the opportunity to help make Newton County a safe place to live, work, play and visit," Ivey said in a letter to The Covington News. "For over 30 years, I have proudly been a public servant.  Having worked in various levels of law enforcement, including patrol shift commander, commander of criminal investigations, quality of life enforcement officer and serving in the administrative division, my experience will benefit as a determined leader for the Newton County Sheriff’s Department."

Ivey has goals of improving community policing, code enforcement and other programs. 

"Being a proud citizen of Newton County, I have a vision of reducing crime and helping Newton County return to the place families want to live," he said in the letter. "I’ve obtained various leadership certifications which would benefit in leading Newton County into a safer future. As our population continues to grow in Newton County, the need exists for new ideas to deter criminal activity.  

"The experience I have gained, working so closely to the Atlanta area, will be a great asset in crime control."

Ivey said he plans to work closely with the Newton County Board of Commissioners and other county departments to help find the needs throughout the community. 

"Programs will be developed to help keep our children and teens active in our communities," he said. "As an active leader, I will negotiate for better pay and benefits for our dheriff’s deputies, which will allow the department to become fully staffed while increasing the retention rate in order to provide our citizens and businesses with a high level of professional service. 

"My goal is to be transparent, accountable and available to the citizens of Newton County, all while being a great steward of the tax payer’s money. Our citizens need a Sheriff who can gain the community’s trust and who has the experience to lead us into a better future."

For more information about Ivey, visit www.iveyforsheriff.com or www.facebook.com/clayiveyforsheriff. 

"Together let’s make Newton County a safe place to live, work, play and visit," Ivey said. "Elect me for your next Sheriff of Newton County."