Published: June 19, 2009 10:18 am      

Meadows appointed as Mercer’s new sheriff

PRINCETON — Newly appointed Mercer County Sheriff Don Meadows accepted the job he’d “like to keep forever” Wednesday.

Just one day after former sheriff Danny R. Wills resigned and minutes after the Mercer County Commission tapped Meadows to assume the post, the new sheriff pledged to keep his focus on law enforcement and the best interests of MCSD officers.

“I just loved being sheriff,” Meadows, who held the office 1989-1996, said.

He loved the task so much that the former sheriff, veteran State Police trooper and prosecuting attorney’s investigator sought to return to the office as the Independent candidate when he squared off against Wills in the November 2008 general election. Wills won that race handily, and Meadows said he respected Wills for his work inside the MCSD and the campaign he ran last year.

“Danny Wills did a good job,” Meadows said. “Danny Wills did things for those deputies that hadn’t been done before.”

Meadows said he likely won’t manage the 27-officer department in exactly the same manner as Wills, but he expected to continue much of the progress the MCSD experienced during the Wills administration.

“No two guys run the department the same way,” Meadows said. “... He had the men’s best interest at heart and cared about the men.”

The County Commission accepted Wills’ resignation at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, and Commission President Joe Coburn said naming a replacement quickly was imperative.

“It had to be done today,” Coburn said. “The sheriff is the treasurer of the county.”

That means he or she is responsible for tax collections, payroll, accounts payable, billing and more involved in the county’s financial operation.

By 2 p.m on Wednesday, the three-member panel voted 2-1 to appoint Meadows, on a motion by Coburn and a second by Commissioner Karen Disibbio. Commissioner Jay Mills was the long dissenting vote in Meadows’ nomination, but he emphasized that his objection was nothing against Meadows. He simply had another candidate he would have preferred.

Meanwhile, Coburn reported there were approximately seven to eight hopefuls vying for the right to hold the sheriff’s office until late 2010.

Wills only started his second term as sheriff in January, leaving more than three years on his unexpired term.

Wednesday's appointment, however, will only run until late 2010. Coburn said candidates my run in the May primary and face off in November 2010.

The resignation and unconfirmed reports that Wills could face federal charges had the courthouse abuzz this week, and the situation cast a shadow over everything in the courthouse.

“Wayne’s going to say our prayer, because we need it,” Disibbio said, addressing Wayne Robinette before the public Commission meeting began. “Say a good one.”

Mills said he had accepted Wills’ resignation but hated doing so.

“It’s a sad day,” he said.

Since he was sworn in Wednesday, Meadows’ term of service was official immediately, and he couldn’t wait to get started. In fact, he pledged to be available any time, day or night, he was needed.

“I know when the phone rings at 3 o’clock in the morning that somebody needs help,” he said.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.