It’s that time again – Marion County candidates for office are gearing up for the May primary election! Chief Deputy Jimmy Clements is running for Sheriff, and supporters packed the Chili Supper/Fundraiser held for him this weekend at the St. Joe Community Center. 
Jimmy spoke at the gathering, obviously humbled by the large crowd assembled there on his behalf.
He told all us yay-hoos that he was gonna be one sorry-#ss Sheriff...
Just kidding about that last remark... (that is how rumors get started!)
Actually, Jimmy Clements thanked all for their support and promised to be a good Sheriff.
A word from me about rumors, though. It is a BIG DEAL when any citizen decides to throw his or her hat in the ring and step forward to run for office. It takes a lot of guts. It takes hard work and dedication. You get your "nose bloodied" sometimes. Some may think that big-city races are the most difficult, but I'm not so sure about that. In a small community like Marion County - where chances are good that almost everyone knows and likes all the candidates on a personal level - it can be brutal! 
With that said, one of the best things a candidate can hope for is a clean race without having to worry with the distraction of dispelling unfounded rumors. Often such rumors come from well-meaning but misguided supporters and not from the candidates at all.
Jimmy briefly addressed a persistent rumor by stating his intentions to retain the current staff and deputies.
I wish I'd gotten more individual pictures of people through the evening, but the chili was so good that I stayed fairly busy eating for quite awhile. Here is the only close-up I got of Jimmy through the night. He is standing with former Sheriff hopeful, Ray Gardner. Looks like Cards and Cats were both represented.
The very young came out...
...And the very old, too.
There was some great music playing, and people lingered for a long time, just to talk.
Special Entertainmentment was provided by The Solid Gold Sisters...
And at the end of the night, Jimmy's wife, Julie, was in the kitchen with her sister and brother-in-law, Mary & Terry Gootee, about to finish the clean-up detail. I learned the chili for the night was from the recipe used currently by all the Marion County schools. It was delicious!
Best of luck, Jimmy Clements!