NATCHEZ — Today The Natchez Democrat profiles candidates vying for the Adams County Coroner’s position.

 

Both candidates vying for Adams County Coroner position are running as Democrats, so the primary will decide the election between challenger Johnathan T. Hargrave and incumbent James E. Lee.

The Adams County Coroner’s duties are outlined below as summarized from Mississippi state statutes by the Mississippi State University Extension service. The coroner is “recognized as a county medical examiner or county medical examiner investigator. The coroner is responsible for assuring readily available death investigators for the county 24 hours a day for the investigation of all deaths ‘affecting the public interest.’ The coroner is also responsible for maintaining copies of all county medical examiner death investigations for the previous five years, and for coordinating and cooperating with the state medical examiner.”

All candidates, submitted responses to the same five questions given to them by The Natchez Democrat. Candidates’ answers were limited to no more than 150 words.

Adams County Coroner

Why should Adams County voters elect you to serve as the Adams County Coroner?

Johnathan Hargrave: I stand on accuracy, compassion and promptness. It is time for a change, and I am the man for this office. I am energetic, understand death, and very concerned about people and their families. Sometimes when a position has been held by the same person for several years, he or she becomes complacent, feels irreplaceable and does not seem to care about the people who placed him or her in the office. The voters deserve someone who cares and is willing to perform one hundred percent no matter the profile level of the death case. I recognize the importance of coroner’s report. The time and cause of death are not limited to criminal investigations. They are vital in civil situations such as insurance payments and whether a policy will pay off. Every minute to one day is important and makes a difference. That is why the voters should elect me.

James Lee: I feel like I’m the most qualified candidate for the job. I have spent a lifetime helping people in their time of bereavement/grief, and I have been very successful.

 

What is the biggest issue facing the Adams County Coroner’s office?

Johnathan Hargrave: Promptness is the biggest among other issues facing the coroner’s office. Responding to a death call is an emergency, and it should be the top priority of the coroner. I will quickly respond to every call. It does not matter if it is my birthday, I am eating supper with my family or a holiday. It takes less than 30 minutes to get to any area of Adams County. There is no need to make law enforcement officers, healthcare facilities, funeral directors and most importantly, the family of the deceased wait long periods of time. Every minute to a grieving family feels like hours. Promptness is certainly a key emphasis in my campaign for Adams County Coroner.

James Lee: The biggest issue facing the Coroner’s Office today is delay in post mortem/autopsy reports from the State Crime Lab. Right now, it takes one or two years before we get these reports and that’s much too long to wait. Be assured as your Coroner, I will advocate on behalf of the citizens of this county to get these reports in a timely manner.

 

What do you think is the public’s biggest misconception about the Adams County Coroner’s office, and what would you do to address it?

Johnathan Hargrave: A coroner does not have to have any medical training. Therefore, the coroner relies on physicians, pathologists or forensic pathologists to perform autopsies for clarification when there is a question about a death. Autopsies are performed at the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office by the Chief or Deputy Medical Examiner. The coroner of Adams County is not the Chief Medical Examiner.  As stated on the Mississippi Department of Public Safety website, “The State Medical Examiner’s Office monitors and maintains the certification of all Coroners and Deputy Coroners within the state of Mississippi. The Medical Examiner’s Office participates in the education and training of the county coroners by providing a 40-hour training seminar to newly elected Coroners and by assisting with the bi-annual Coroner’s conference.” To address this, when elected I will attend the training to become certified. I will remove certain decals from the coroner’s van to clear the misconception.

James Lee:  The biggest misconception the public have is the Coroner’s response time. Most people don’t know we have a protocol in Adams County. Although, they see law enforcement and ambulances on a scene, some people believe they are waiting on the Coroner. The fact is the Coroner is the last person who is called and we cannot respond until we are dispatched by the sheriff or police department. The only thing I can do is make people aware of the protocol.

 

What experience do you have that uniquely qualifies you for the Adams County Coroner’s position?

Johnathan Hargrave: I understand the death process and what it does to families. I have been in the funeral industry for 22 years, which places me in a broad spectrum of death cases.  Even though the end results are the same, each case is unique and deserves special attention. I have had a course in thanatology and earned a certificate in grief counseling from Wellington Institute. I hold a bachelor’s degree in theology, master’s in Christian counseling, and doctor of theology from Kingdom Theological Seminary. The coroner’s office has been my desire for many years, and I believe it is my turn. My rapport with Adams County voters is excellent and will continue to be nothing less.

James Lee: I have been Coroner in Adams County for nearly 20 years. I have attended and maintained current advanced certificates in death investigation required by the State Crime Lab. I have been a healthcare professional for nearly 40 years. As a veteran, I worked as field medic/supply clerk, i’m a certified respiratory therapist, former emergency medical technician, former lab tech, former x-ray technician, I attended Co-Lin Jr. College, Alcorn State University and California College Health Science. In addition, I have been an adjunct instructor for the Police Academy at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg teaching new police officers basic death investigation.

 

If elected Adams County Coroner what would you add or change about the current operations?

Johnathan Hargrave: It is necessary for me to work cohesively with law enforcement when called for tragic or violent death cases. I will be an investigator but not a detective or public relations specialist for the sheriff’s office and police department. I will allow them to perform their duties, and I will investigate the death based on my observations.  Making sure I am present when called will be a huge benefit to them. It is essential to prevent and heal poor community relationships. I want people to know that if they have questions relating to the explanation of my reports for their loved ones, they are welcome to come to the coroner’s office. Evaluating the budget and usage of all listed expenses will certainly be in perspective to save the county money.

James Lee: If elected, I don’t believe I would change anything. But, I would truly work to improve the office and make sure that we are up to date as a 21st Century Coroner’s office. Times change and we will change with the time. “Keep Lee Coroner 2019.”