Queen backs away from sheriff’s race
JAIRAM QUEEN, who had said in January he would run for sheriff, has changed his mind.
Queen had told The Cairo Messenger in January that he intended to run for the county’s top law enforcement office, but he says the situation has changed.
“I just want to let the people know that were supporting me, that due to a lot of events in my family and the fact that it is going to cause a conflict with my current job, I am not running this time,” says Queen.
The 30-year-old is a corrections officer at Bainbridge Probation and Substance Abuse Treatment Center, a state corrections’ facility, where he has worked for two years.
Although he is giving up his ambition this campaign go-round, he says he will try again later. “I’m young. I’m only 30, so I have time. I want to prepare myself to come back. Don’t count me out,” Queen says.
The 2001 Cairo High School graduate and Syrupmaker linebacker says he is enrolled at Bainbridge College with plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He says he also wants to attend the Police Academy to earn certification.
Even though he’s ending his candidacy now, he says the experience so far has been worthwhile, “I’ve learned a lot in the last few months. A lot of people supported me in my years playing football and in this campaign. I’m not going to let them down, but I’m going to be prepared and older when I come back.”
Queen says he encourages his former supporters to get behind another candidate, and he says he plans to support Jerome Smiley for sheriff.
