BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Primary Election was held on Tuesday, with the highly anticipated tallying of the final votes cast in Raleigh County providing long-awaited answers to the question of who would serve as sheriff for the upcoming term.
Former Beckley PD investigator Frank Priddy was one of two candidates challenging incumbent Sheriff Jim Canaday, who was sworn in as sheriff in late 2022 following former sheriff Scott Van Meter’s successful campaign for Raleigh County Clerk.
Sheriff Canaday’s bid to retain the position was challenged by both Randy White and Frank Priddy, with Priddy ultimately securing the necessary votes to assume the role.
LOOTPRESS caught up with the candidate following the win to discuss the future of the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office.
“I’m excited! I’m ready to go in there, I’m ready to work,” said Priddy. “I’m going to have an open-door policy; people can come and talk to me. If they have a problem or an issue, I’ll have an office right down there [at the Sheriff’s Department] and they can come talk to me any time.”
When asked about issues on which he’d like to focus upon assuming the role of sheriff, Priddy noted the need for greater police presence in certain areas.
“I think we need police presence in certain areas of the county that don’t have a lot of police presence right now,” said Priddy, pointing out areas throughout the county he feels could benefit from expanded law enforcement representation. “There are good people out there and they need good police service just like everybody else, and they’re going to get it.”
Priddy also praised the character and efforts of his opponents in the 2024 sheriff’s race and expressed enthusiasm at the opportunity to continue the work of the current sheriff’s office.
Additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the 2024 primary election can be found here.
