The Times Record News interviewed the two men are running for Wichita County Sheriff in the March 3 Republican Primary.
William Rutledge, who was appointed, is challenged by Clay County Deputy William Norris III. No Democrat filed for the race, so the winner of the primary will serve the remainder of the term of David Duke, who resigned from the office Aug. 31, 2025.
Rutledge on why voters should choose him
Rutledge said his 35 years of law enforcement separate him from his younger opponent.
“I’ve been down a lot of roads, seen a lot of things,” Rutledge said.
He said he has been part of the Sheriff’s Office command staff the past 10 years and worked on the design and construction of the county’s law enforcement center.
“I’ve done the budget for the last eight years. It is the largest budget in the county,” he said. “In 2026, it’ll be over $26 million, and we have the largest number of employees, 217. So my leadership, management, experience pretty much sums it up.”
His take on staffing challenges in the Sheriff’s Office
“We’ve had a lot of problems since COVID, and we’re not the only ones. We have worked with the commissioner’s court to bring salaries up, and then we’ve also used ARPA money for incentives,” he said.
American Rescue Plan Act funding is federal COVID-19 relief money.
“With the pay raises we’ve gotten over the last few years, we’ve brought the salaries to a competitive level, and, you know, pretty much are fully staffed now,” Rutledge said.
His view on the role of the office in immigration enforcement
“We actually started working with the immigration people back in 2019 before it was even mandatory,” Rutledge said. “We work hand in hand with immigration.”
He said deputies and jailers are trained to handle immigration paperwork.
“We’re doing what we’re supposed to do,” he said.
His thoughts on dealing with the homeless population
“We usually see the homeless when they’ve been arrested for public intoxication, criminal trespass or theft charges,” he said. “If they’re in our jail long enough, we can work with them.
He said his office can often get homeless people back on medication if they need it.
“We can make it make it available to them, but it’s up to them to follow through when they get out of jail,” he said.
“My leadership and management experience pretty much sums it. That’s why I believe I’m the better candidate,” Rutledge said.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Rutledge says experience makes him best man for Wichita County sheriff
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
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