Three-term incumbent Sheriff Raleigh H. Issacs Sr. officially has a challenger for this coming November’s election, Timothy L. Mallory.

Mallory touts a total of 25 years of experience in running for the sheriff’s post.

That experience includes being a Norfolk Police Officer for 12 years and

a Volunteer Auxiliary Police Officer in Suffolk.

Mallory is also regional director for the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement and Senior Coordinator of Security Services for Norfolk Public Schools.

Safe school environments are at the top of Mallory’s goals.

Mallory says he wants to, &uot;assist in providing a safe school environment with crisis management training, promotion youth prevention programs, school safety audits and child identification programs.&uot;

Mallory has officially announced and said he filed the necessary paperwork prior to the state deadline of June 14.

&uot;My whole focus is to run,&uot; said Mallory. &uot;I will be running in November’s election.&uot; Mallory added that when in office he will remain, &uot;Accountable to the People.&uot;

&uot;It’s not so much making the Sheriff’s office better,&uot; Mallory said, &uot;it’s about trying to make better progress and improve on things.&uot;

Other stated goals released by Mallory include: to provide crime prevention programs for homes, neighborhoods and businesses, assist first-time offenders to become effective citizens and

coordinate Senior Outreach initiatives with city agencies and businesses.

In response to Mallory declaring his intent to run, the incumbent Issacs said, &uot;The voters in this city have been very kind to me, they have reelected me twice.

&uot;I’d say to the citizens of Suffolk, they have the right to make a choice to elect who they want into public offices,&uot; he added, &uot;but I would ask the voters to examine the choices carefully.&uot;

Issacs questioned Mallory’s experience as it directly relates to the office of sheriff and Mallory’s knowledge and experience within Suffolk itself.

Since first being elected to the office in 1993, Issacs won a landslide victory in 1997 by a margin of 81 percent to 19 percent over opponent Jeffery V. Townsend, and an unopposed victory in 2001.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com