"It's time

for a change."

With these words,

Scott Smith is scouring Coweta County looking for votes and supporters

in his race to be Coweta County's next sheriff.

Despite the race not

being contended until next year, Smith believes the key to his success

comes from starting early.

"There are hundreds

of people that I want to contact personally and get my message out,"

he said.

Smith currently owns

two bail bonding companies, which he is selling, but believes he is well-prepared

for the job.

"I've had

every job over there," Smith said, pointing to the Sheriff's

Department building across from his company in Newnan.

Smith worked in a

variety of positions at the department including detention officer, road

deputy and head of the DUI taskforce.

He believes his people

skills and love of Coweta County would serve him well as the sheriff.

"Our current

sheriff (Mike Yeager) has ambitions in Washington. I just want to stay

here and serve the people. I don't want to be a politician,"

Smith said.

For the next eight

months, he plans to contact as many voters as possible.

"There are 51,000

voters and I'm conducting a grassroots campaign to meet as many of

them as possible," he said.

Smith lives in the

Thomas Crossroads area and can remember when there was only a small general

store at the bustling intersection.

His vision for the

Sheriff's Department is one that is more service-oriented and plans

for the explosive growth that continues to happen.

"We can either

be a Union City or a Kennesaw," he said.

As he canvasses the

county, Smith wants people to realize that his overall vision of public

safety involves the future generations.

"I just really

want this to be a safe place for our kids to grow up."