Local & State Headlines

Newton man nominated as Baker Sheriff

• Dana Meade originally qualified to run as an independent candidate for sheriff of Baker County.

J.D.Sumner

ALBANY — State Democratic leaders have named a Newton man as their nominee to replace embattled Baker County Sheriff Isaac Anderson in the November general election, authorities confirmed Friday, making him the only candidate whose name will appear on the ballot.

Camilla Police Officer Dana Meade, who had originally qualified to seek the office as an independent candidate, will carry the Democratic party’s banner after Baker Probate Judge Angela Hendricks confirmed the nod Friday afternoon.

“Mr. Meade has been placed on the ballot,” she said.

Meade and Mitchell County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Williamson met with state party leaders in July to discuss options for replacing Anderson on the November ballot.

Anderson was the lone candidate to qualify for the race but withdrew his name for consideration in the election Thursday afternoon citing health and legal reasons, according to a letter sent to Baker County Attorney Tommy Coleman.

Anderson was removed from office in late July after the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council recommended that Hendricks declare the office vacant.

Baker County Coroner Andy Belinc has been serving as the acting sheriff while awaiting a temporary appointment from Hendricks, which she said Friday “wouldn’t be long.”

Anderson, who has been at the helm of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office since 1996, was implicated in a 2002 scheme to create an alibi for a Florida man who police believe assaulted his wife.

Charged but acquitted of federal charges, Anderson had his POST certification revoked after state officials said he refused to cooperate with investigators in the case.

After five years of legal wrangling, the Georgia Supreme Court effectively affirmed a Court of Appeals ruling granting POST the authority to declare the office vacant, by choosing not to hear the case.

Democratic Party spokesperson Martin Matheny told the Herald July 23 that talks among “interested people” had taken place in Atlanta. Those people, he confirmed, where Meade and Williamson.