news-record.com

This probably comes as a surprise to no one, but Sheriff BJ Barnes said he intends to run for re-election next year.

I long suspected BJ woudn't fight for the jail as hard as he did and simply walk away from the ball game. I also got a look at the jail blueprints in a sit-down interview at his office Monday morning. It looks like it will be pretty impressive. We'll write more about the new jail closer to when it looks to open (tentatively November 2011).

Also, an interesting point about the new jail is that it will be built from the top down. Detention officers will be hitting the ground running, learning the layout and technology on the eighth floor even before the building is complete. That way they will waste no time in preparing for opening day.

Back to the elections... any potential candidates out there pondering a run for sheriff? I'd love to hear from you.

Also, readers -- do you think there is anyone in Guilford County who could legitimately give the sheriff a run for his money? 

I suppose it's never too early to start thinking about next year's elections.

From our site:

GREENSBORO — Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes said Monday that he intends to run for re-election in 2010 with the hope of overseeing a smooth transition to the new downtown jail.

“I plan on running and seeing the jail finished if the citizens will give me that honor,” Barnes said.

“It’s something that's going to be very important to the community, and I owe it to the men and women who have done so much for the sheriff’s office and the citizens to see this through.”

The new jail, tentatively scheduled to open in November 2011, will hold 1,032 inmates and is expected to cost $114.6 million. It will be adjacent to the current jail on West Sycamore Street.

Once the eight-story structure is complete, a massive one-year renovation of the old jail will be conducted to enable inmates to be housed there again as well.

The new jail should be in line with inmate population growth through 2025, according to inmate growth estimates.

Barnes has served as Guilford County Sheriff since 1994 and has more than 30 years in law enforcement.