Two Leflore County candidates — one a Democrat and one an independent — each sought the support of voters Wednesday night.
Democrat Demetrice Bedell is running for sheriff. Independent Kelvin Cedell Pulley is seeking the post of Leflore County Justice Court for the Central District.
Both spoke at a meeting of the Greenwood Voters League.
Bedell, 45, is chief of police of the Greenwood School District. Prior to that he worked as a narcotics officer with the Greenwood Police Department.
A 1989 graduate of Amanda Elzy High School, Bedell received a bachelor’s degree with honors from Mississippi Valley State University in 1993. He said he has more than 20 years of police and military experience.
“My education, experience and knowledge in law enforcement speaks for itself,” Bedell said.
This is Bedell’s second campaign for sheriff. In 2011, he ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Sheriff Ricky Banks, an independent who has been in office since 1972.
“Change has to happen,” Bedell said. “Change is upon us. It is our duty to make that change in order to move Leflore County forward.”
Although Bedell did not criticize Banks directly, he said the department needs to be modernized, much like an old computer or home.
“The same goes for elected officials. They have done their jobs, but it is time to move forward with a new generation in order to make changes to move Leflore County forward,” he said.
Many people say “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” but “the problem with that statement is, if we continue with the same people in office, we have not made progress and will continue to fall further behind,” Bedell said.
“It’s like an old car; it may have served us well over the years, but there comes a time when you must replace it with a new one to get to the places you used to go and the new places you are trying to go,” Bedell said.
Pulley, 28, the son of Cedell and Margie Pulley, is a 2005 Greenwood High School graduate. He received a bachelor’s degree in history in 2008 from Jackson State University and graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2010.
While in law school, Pulley served as a law clerk for Hinds County Court Judge Winston Kidd. He also served in the Jackson City Attorney’s Office and as a law clerk for Leflore County Circuit Court Judge Betty Sanders.
Currently, Pulley is an associate attorney specializing in personal injury with the Boone Law Firm P.A. of Cleveland.
Pulley will face Democratic incumbent James Littleton in the Nov. 3 general election.
Leflore County Justice Court handles small civil cases, misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic cases outside Greenwood. Justice Court judges also hold bond and preliminary hearings and issue search warrants.
Pulley said he wanted to give back to his hometown and community.
“I learned how the justice system works. From capital murder trials to shoplifting, from medical malpractice cases to run-of-the-mill car accidents, I worked to apply the law to the facts of the case,” he said.
“I guarantee fairness to all people. Everyone deserves fairness, regardless of their education, skin color, age or gender. My experience as a law clerk taught me that judges have to be willing to see both sides of the argument before making the right decision,” Pulley said.
He vowed to conduct himself ethically and honorably if elected.
“Vote for a man of integrity. Vote for a man of humility, and vote for a man striving to make his hometown a better place to live, work and play,” Pulley said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
