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WHEELING - Former Ohio County magistrate, chief deputy and businessman Charles Murphy misses interaction with the public, and he wants to return to public service.
Murphy, 66, is a Republican candidate for Ohio County sheriff in 2024, and he faces another former chief deputy - Nelson Croft - in the May 14 GOP primary. The winner of the primary faces a third former deputy, Democrat Howard "John" Haglock, in the Nov. 5 general election. Haglock is running unopposed.
Murphy noted it will be the first time in recent memory where the next sheriff will have been a former deputy, and that there "won't be that delay in changing administrations."
"I want to go back to where it all started," Murphy said. "All three candidates in this race have the state police academy under our belts, and years of experience.
"But I can also say I served 22 years as magistrate, and that I ran my own business for 35 years."
He thinks his business expertise also will give him an edge on the tax department side of the sheriff's job. Murphy first spent eight years with the sheriff's department before leaving to focus on his own business that provided moving services and seasonal lighting displays to businesses.
He later was called back to the Ohio County Sheriff's Department to serve as chief deputy under former Sheriff Ed Weith for another eight years.
Then Murphy was elected magistrate, but he acknowledged the job did limit his involvement with the community.
He had always enjoyed getting out speaking to speaking to people, but strict guidelines crafted by the West Virginia Supreme Court discourages magistrates from having a public presence, according to Murphy.
He added if he is elected sheriff he will be able to do all the community service he did as a deputy when he visited small neighborhoods, towns and villages.
"I can't wait to get out and work with the public again," Murphy said. "As a magistrate, I was denied that opportunity. I like people, and I like to be active with people."
He noted while the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force does an excellent job addressing "the big picture" of local drug issues, he wants to get out and start one-on-one relationships with residents in the community that might help with gaining information on neighborhood drug dealers and other crime.
"I want to be able to address the problems with items being stolen, and the trouble people have with drugs in their neighborhoods," Murphy said. "You have to have good relationships with the community.
"People are entitled to know what it was that happened in their neighborhood, then maybe they can aid law enforcement with making an arrest. People are knowledgeable. But you have to stop and talk to people in depth about their neighborhoods."
He encourages the public to make note of any strange activity they see in their neighborhood.
"It used to be a big thing (for deputies) to stop and talk to people. We would get so much info from the farmer that saw the gray car go down the road with three people in it," Murphy said.