A former chief deputy to the late Morgan County Sheriff Steve Crabbe said he has 32 years of law enforcement experience that qualifies him for the top job.

"I have the passion to serve, and the necessary leadership skills and abilities," Little said. "My desire is that people have easy access to the sheriff's office and leave having a positive experience.

Little served as Crabbe's chief deputy from 1991 to 2002 when the sheriff, a Republican, died. Little decided not to run for sheriff in 2002, but did run in 2006 in a close race losing to the current Sheriff Greg Bartlett.

In addition to experience as chief deputy, Little worked for the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board. He operated an enforcement district for the agency in Birmingham.

Qualifications

He is a state-certified police officer and a graduate of the Huntsville Police Academy.

He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Montevallo. He has a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Little is among two people in Alabama to be named American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He received the national honor in 2000.

Little served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1969.

He said his experience makes him an ideal candidate.

"I look forward to meeting and talking with the citizens of Morgan County, and I hope they will welcome the experience I can to bring to the sheriff's office," Little said. "I plan to run a good, clean race."

Sheriff Greg Bartlett, who won the 2002 general election as a Democrat, turned Republican later, saying that he no longer shared the same views as Democrats.

Sheriff Greg Bartlett pocketed some $316,000 over a five-year period of unspent food money for the Morgan County Jail. That was in addition to his $64,000 annual salary.