Jones’ name to stay on ballot on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

Jones’ name to stay on ballot

Related Articles

Laura Salmon murder to be profiled on Investigation Discovery

RuCo to consider special redistricting committee

Major changes in store for RuCo Farmers’ Market

Southern Rutherford County sees rash of burglaries

Three fugitives wanted in other states captured

Donations for Alabama tornado victims being accepted

Ketron will not run for 4th District seat

Legislators, police declare war on synthetic drugs

Buried secrets: Orrand murder to be televised

Community Celebration set for February

View All

By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Editor

Posted: Friday, July 23, 2010 3:53 pm

Sheriff Truman Jones’ name will remain on the Aug. 5 County General Election ballot.

The Rutherford County Election Commission voted unanimously to accept a County Attorney’s opinion that stated a complaint filed by Republican Sheriff candidate Robert Arnold challenging Jones’ eligibility to run for re-election for the Rutherford County Sheriff came too late after the ballots had been finalized.

“We received the Post (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification just like we are supposed to,” Election Commissioner John Taylor said. “It’s not our duty to investigate the validity of the POST certification.”

Arnold alleged Jones’ 2001 psychological evaluation was signed by a psychologist, Dr. Robert Scollon, whose license had expired in 1989. The same psychologist evaluated Jones in 1976.

“He did not complete the requirement to become a ‘qualified’ candidate for the office of sheriff for the 2002 election, the 2006 election or the 2010 election,” Arnold wrote in his complaint. “Hence he should be disqualified as a candidate.”

By state law all candidates for sheriff must pass a psychological evaluation to run for the office. That evaluation is then certified by the POST Commission and given to the local election commission.

"A number of sheriffs and other law enforcement officials underwent the same process of renewing our psychological certifications in good faith, and as directed by the POST Commission,” Jones said in response to Arnold’s allegation.

Earlier this week, the county attorney’s office issued an opinion dealing with the issue.

Assistant County Attorney Evan Cope opined the election commission does not have “any statutory authority … to investigate such an issue.”

Cope reasoned the complaint would have to be made before the ballot are finalized, which was in early June, for the election commission to investigate the claim and possibly remove Jones from the ballot.

“The election commission performed all the tasks and requirements in order to meet the letter of the law,” Rutherford County Elections Administrator Hooper Penuel said. “At the time, the Post (Commission) had certified Mr. Jones and that was our authority.”

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Election, RCSO, Robert Arnold, RuCo, Sheriff, Truman Jones

Member Opinions:

By: shoveit on 7/23/10
I copied this from another article and can't take credit but make alot of sense to me, The Sheriff was cleared by the POST commission as was other Sheriff's across the state if he does not have the proper paerwork then neith do they...One more thing read and wep....Murfreesboro, Smyrna,LaVergne and MTSU all have Chiefs of Police, would Arnold, could Arnold be able to do those jobs, would he even get an interview with his resume, THE ANSWER IS NO, not ever. So, wake up you head in the sand Arnold blog hoppers, what the heck makes him able to think he can do the job of running a 400 plus personnel department with a 32 million dollars budget not to mention 600 to a 1000 prisoners. No experience, No education, No way. Truman Jones is the best choice for Rutherford County.

By: applelover on 7/23/10
Truman has my vote! He is a good man and has been an excellent sheriff.

By: drnitemare on 7/25/10
I will vote for Truman until he quits running. Hes done a lot of great things for Rutherford County. Next time I will vote for Virgil Gammon, who is another good guy. I was going to run myself but I found out Truman was running and I will not run against him, nor Mr. Gammon.

By: birddog0001 on 7/25/10
Why is it when someone puts something negative, it gets erased? Aren't you being one-sided?

By: Farmall on 7/26/10
So he is not legal to run, yet its not our job to investigate our own polices? Sounds like all Mr. Arnold has to do is file a complaint with the state. But they probably wouldn't investigate either. So breaking the law is ok in this case. Good thing its not a birth certificate that is needed.

By: shoveit on 7/26/10
There is nothing against the law concerning this, you are very wrong. The POST commssion made it very well known that the Sheriff has the proper paperworj to run, this paperwork is nothing more than Dr. Scollen saying he gave the test to the Sheriff and signed a perjury statement required by POST. Other Sheriff across the state had to do the same as was required by POST. Much to do about nothing.

By: SocEtTuem on 7/26/10
It's way past time for Jones and his corrupt good ole boy network to get the shoe-leather express. It's been one scandal after another over the past four years and it's high time we have some change.

By: shoveit on 7/26/10
Prove said corrupt comment, what has he done, stole money, drugs, committed a crime, what???? What scandal, are you talking about people who got fired for doing wrong, so how is that the Sheriff's fault. Again, Can Arnold get interviewed for a Chief's job here in Rutherford County, NO he can't because; He does not have the experience or education.