Hitt gives up in sheriff's race against Keller

Realizing that the odds of winning were slim, political hopeful Bobby Hitt on Monday bowed out of the race for Clark County sheriff.

Hitt cited incumbent Sheriff Jerry Keller's strong showing in the primary election -- where Keller won 62 percent of the vote -- as being a decisive factor. The retired Metro Police lieutenant said he felt the sheriff was unbeatable.

Hitt won 16 percent of the primary vote, edging out Chuck Lee, the owner of an automobile dealership and a former homicide detective, who got 13 percent. Lee, 62, last week threw his support to Hitt for the November election.

"To run and to lose in the general election would mean that Metro would face the status quo," Hitt, 50, said in a written statement Monday. "There are issues of great importance, which need to be resolved at Metro. I believe that right now my supporters and I have the greatest leverage with the sheriff to make positive changes, not after the election ..."

Keller and Hitt met Monday morning to discuss concerns both felt needed to be addressed in the near future.

"I've known Bobby Hitt for 26 years," Keller said of their law-enforcement careers. "He is doing this because he is committed to the department and the community. I was surprised, but we both support his decision."

Keller said he planned to sit down with Hitt and his staff in a couple of weeks.

"I would ask Sheriff Keller to look inside his organization at some of the issues that we, the other candidates, have brought forth throughout this election," Hitt said at a news conference Monday. "Look inside to see why the employees of Metro have low morale, and why they asked me to run for this office ..."

Hitt also encouraged the sheriff to examine Metro's hiring practices and testing procedures.

Lee said he was disappointed that Hitt decided to concede the race. He said he believed that Hitt was the more qualified candidate and that they both shared similar ideas of changes needed at Metro.

Hitt retired a year ago to run for sheriff. His son, Bobby Hitt Jr., said his father had no plans for the future.

"He does not consider this a defeat," Bobby Hitt Jr. said. "We had some independent companies do surveys last week, and a lot of people in the community said they were not unhappy (with Keller)."

Hitt's name will still appear on the November ballot, but his son said he will not campaign. Keller said he will downsize his campaign efforts but not take the election for granted.

Keller spent more than $400,000 on his campaign, while Hitt spent $179,000 and Lee $245,000.

Hitt ran on a platform of improving police officers' images in the community and making communities safer.

Lee supported upgrading the present 911 emergency system and keeping police substations, where detectives would be trained to handle domestic-violence situations, open 24 hours.

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