Bill Watterson has announced that he intends to run for Sheriff of Newton County once again this term. This comes after resigning from the NCSO after more than two decades in order to pursue the office.

Watterson started his career with the NCSO in 1990 as a jailer in the detention center and has worked in a variety of positions with the force, including supervisor over patrol, CHAMPS, community outreach, civil division, traffic division, school resource officer, drug task force, investigations, traffic division/accident reconstruction, court services and vehicle maintenance.

His goal, according to a press release is to return the office of the sheriff to the people of Newton County.

"I have lived and learned from past sheriffs like Gerald Malcolm and Joe Nichols that the sheriff's office is only as effective as the relationship it has with its citizens. Sheriff Nichols reminded me constantly that the office of the sheriff belonged to the people and he had to answer to them and that's why he had an open door policy for everyone. The quality of their leadership and their devotion to the people set the example I want to follow," he said.

"I want to make it clear it was my decision to leave the department because I felt that the sheriff's office, under the current administration, has moved away from these core beliefs. I felt the call to leave to be free to pursue the office of sheriff - not only to better serve the citizens of Newton County - but to also protect the hardworking employees of the current sheriff's office. I would like to return the NCSO to a place of fairness, job security and a place where people want to come to work again."

Watterson, a veteran of the United States Air Force and Army Reserve, is a lifelong resident of Newton County. He lives with his wife Yolanda, an elementary school teacher, and sons McKenzie, 14, and Micah, 11.

"We are vested in this county and are committed to making it the best place it can possibly to raise a family and then retire," said Watterson.