Houston County Sheriff Candidates Share Their General Election Plans

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. – Houston County residents will have a new sheriff for the first time in more than half a century. On Tuesday, voters selected their Republican and Democratic candidates for the sheriff’s race: Republican Matt Moulton and Democrat Arthur Lee Harris.

One of the two candidates will fill Sheriff Cullen Talton’s seat, the nation’s longest-serving, after he retires this year.

After Talton told 13WMAZ last September that he would not run for office this year, five men put their names in the hat for his position.

Harris was the only Democrat running.

“I know this community,” Harris said. “I was born and raised here. I’ve seen this community grow from 5,000 people to 170,000 people, so I know our community. And now it’s time for change in our community too,” Harris said.

Moulton won the Republican seat by 57%, defeating Jimmy Dunn, Will Kendall and Slate Simons.

“It was nice to finally be able to meet people, because when they’re able to put a face to the name, they have a light bulb moment and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re the guy, you’re the guy with the red signs everywhere,” Moulton said.

Harris said he believed his Republican opponents were qualified to run, but expected Moulton to win because of his experience in the sheriff’s office.

“I thought the winner was in the lead from the start,” Harris said. “Everyone was trying to catch up… But to give him credit, he worked really hard.”

Moulton said his biggest priority is starting a program for at-risk youth.

Harris said his main priority is ending the violence by building relationships with the community.

“Rather than building prisons, I want to build relationships so we can stop some of the activities that are going on,” Harris said.

“Whether it’s budget, finances, personnel matters, leadership, I think I’ve been well prepared throughout my career to take the reins of the sheriff’s office,” Moulton said. “This summer is going to come and we are going to prepare hard for November.”

But Harris said he’s also ready to work.

“His hard work paid off in the first round. But now he’s going to have to work harder, because I’m going to work harder than him,” Harris said.

Election day is November 5.