WILTON — The two candidates in the Franklin County Sheriff’s race disagreed on how much oversight is needed for deputies during a forum hosted this morning by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.
Independent incumbent Sheriff Dennis Pike, 74, said that existing levels of oversight are adequate and that implementing an electronic tracking system proposed by his opponent would undermine the level of trust between deputies and their commanding officers.
Republican challenger and Carrabassett Valley police Chief Scott Nichols, 51, said the tracking system, which would require officers to physically register at established checkpoints while patrolling outlying communities, is needed to make sure that deputies are doing their job and to maintain public faith in law enforcement.
The tracking system was one of a handful of issues the two candidates disagreed about during the breakfast forum at Calzolaio Pasta Co., where they fielded questions from a crowd of about 50.
On other issues, such as the need to restore a full-service jail to the community, the candidates agreed.
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