Tyler

Andy Dunklin announced today he is running for Smith County sheriff.

During a news conference and in materials presented to reporters, Dunklin said he believed the county should erect a tent city to help deal with jail overcrowding. He said the state has approved of a county housing inmates in tents.

He said housing some inmates in tents would help Smith County save money, by bringing back inmates being shipped to other jail facilities, until a permanent solu-tion is achieved.

He also said he would work to combat illegal immigration crimes, reduce the use of patrol deputies serving civil papers and establish a central reporting system so law agencies could better share information.

A Republican, Dunklin, 49, unsuccessfully ran for sheriff in 2004 against longtime incumbent J.B. Smith.

Dunklin is the owner of an outdoor cleaning company, and before that worked for many years as a Department of Public Safety officer. He and his wife have three children.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007 at 3:14 p.m. CDT

Andy Dunklin announces his candidacy for Smith County Sheriff for the March 2008 Republican Primary at the Rose Garden Center today.
(Staff photo by Jaime R. Carrero)