Randy Maxwell: 'Still a lot to do' by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, October 18th, 2007 @ 8:22 am  E-mail Story |  Print Story  After winning the Sheriff's race by 187 votes four years ago, Sheriff Randy Maxwell is excited and enthusiastic going into Saturday's election. Maxwell outpolled Glen Lipsey 4,421 to 4,234 in 2003 in a run-off. The two candidates are the only two on this year's ballot. "We feel great and have gotten an excellent reception from the people," Maxwell said. "We've worked extremely hard and will continue to work hard. The response has been overwhelming. And our people are so enthused and really pouring their hearts into it. We're getting the message out this time. I don't feel as if we got that message out last time." Maxwell was appointed by the Concordia Parish Police Jury to the post of sheriff on August 31, 1990. He served with the Louisiana State Police for 19 years, working in almost every division. Maxwell is the first sheriff from Concordia Parish to be elected to serve on the Louisiana Sheriff's (LSA) Executive Board. In April of 1993, then-Gov. Edwin Edwards named Maxwell state chairman of the newly created D.A.R.E. Advisory Board (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), a position which he still holds. Additionally, the sheriff serves on the Executive Board of the Red River Delta Law Enforcement Council and chairs the Red River Delta Priority Committee which oversees federal funding for a nine-parish area. He's also a member of the Louisiana Coordinating Council on Domestic Violence and the Louisiana Community Policing Institute. In March 1997, Maxwell held grand opening ceremonies for the $4.3 million Concordia Parish Correctional Facility and the adjacent Concordia Parish Community Center, accomplishing a major goal of his administration. "With all we've done we feel like there is still a lot to do," Maxwell said. "We're just asking to be judged on what has been accomplished and real qualifications. We're constantly doing things to improve this parish for the people. That's something that never ends." Maxwell said he has valuable contacts that allow him to be in a position to bring monies and jobs to the parish. "Last year alone we brought in $1,800,000 in grants," he said. "That's a lot of money and a lot of jobs. And that just doesn't come with the office. That's from hard work through the years. And once you get that money you have to produce and show people you know what you are doing. I'm very proud that in 17 years we've never had a questionable audit, any type of corruption or scandal and every dollar has been accounted for and spent wisely. And it will continue to be."