Recently, Bob Hinson spoke to a group of citizens about his candidacy for sheriff in 2006. I was impressed with a lot of the things he had to say about his plans for the sheriff's office, such as his plans to regain the accreditation for the sheriff's department and his idea to equip the county with a helicopter without using taxpayers' money.

After his presentation, he opened the floor for questions. He was asked where he was from and that's when I found out he grew up in Mayberry (Mount Airy). His knowledge of the criminal-justice system is surrounded by a diversified background in criminal law, which tells me he is certainly qualified to be our next sheriff, but it was his personality and professional demeanor that impressed me the most.

We could use a sheriff more like Andy Taylor after our experience with BJ Barnes, the self-proclaimed "big and bad Boss Hogg."

Eric Madden
Greensboro