Local businessman and former law enforcement officer Keith Lamar Howard joined the race Friday for Bulloch County sheriff, tossing his hat into the ring along with Bulloch County sheriff's Chief Deputy Jared Akins and Sgt. Noel Brown.

The seat will be vacated Dec. 31 with current Sheriff Lynn Anderson's retirement. Howard qualified Friday as a Democrat. He has no party opposition in the May 24 primary election and will face either Akins or Brown in the November general election.

Howard is a former Georgia State Patrol trooper and former Jenkins County sheriff's chief deputy. He owns a local business doing septic system work and providing portable toilets and is "experienced in both business and law enforcement," he said.

Howard told the Statesboro Herald he is "eager to serve all the people in Bulloch County" and would focus on a sheriff's department that "is not divided (and) is fair and accessible to both citizens and employees."

Howard is a Bulloch County native. He graduated in 1979 from Statesboro High School and later achieved an electrician's diploma from Swainsboro Technical College.

In 1982, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a volunteer firefighter. That is how, through helping fight fires and save lives and property, "I realized serving people was my calling," he said.

If elected sheriff, Howard said he would "focus on meeting citizens' needs, better pay and better benefits for employees, and enhance (employee) training,"

He said he would work with the Bulloch County Commission and manager to find ways to increase the department's pay and staffing and would up patrolling to prevent break-ins.

Howard said he would like to see more educational programs for firearm and personal safety, as well as have deputies trained as first responders. He would like to see the DARE (drug prevention education) program expanded to middle and high schools and develop programs to help senior citizens who are often targets of fraud and deception, he said.

Touting himself as "hardworking and self-motivated," Howard promised that if elected, he will be "accessible to all ... with an open-door policy" and will return phone calls. He also likes the idea of holding town hall meetings on a regular basis "to give citizens a voice," he said. "A sheriff cannot work for the people if he cannot hear the people's opinions."

He said his diversity would be an asset to the office of the sheriff.

"I have diversification like no other candidate has," Howard said. "I have cropped tobacco alongside of people who are the backbone of this county and have been trusted with the safety of both state and federal dignitaries."

With over 3,000 hours of law enforcement training, Howard knows how to protect as well as help people, "from rescuing cats in trees to changing tires for people stranded on the side of the road," he said. "I consider helping people as part of my mission to serve, and I will continue that mission as sheriff."

Over the years, Howard has received numerous awards, including those from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, various civic clubs and state and federal agencies. He said he is "excellent in managing finances, remaining organized (and) maintaining excellent relationships with employees and business agencies."

He is a member of Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church and married to the former Gail Beasley of Brooklet. He has an adult daughter, Hannah, and a son, Keith Jr., a fourth-grader at Mattie Lively Elementary School.

Howard is past master of Ogeechee Lodge 213 and a member of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia and the Portal Hunting Club.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.