PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission Wednesday will interview the five candidates vying to be the next Wood County Sheriff after originally saying they were going to do four.

During Monday’s regular meeting of the commission, the commission decided to conduct five 15-minute interviews this Wednesday during a special meeting of the county commission starting at 9 a.m. in the commission meeting chamber. The interviews will be public, but officials said they might have to go behind closed doors in executive session if the discussions turn to something that needed to be confidential.

The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting listed the matter as “Interviews, discuss and consider replacement for Wood County Sheriff vacancy.” The agenda also said there would be “No public comments.”

Five people applied for the position last week. They were Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin, Wood County 911 Director Rick Woodyard, former Chief Deputy Charlie Johnson (who had served under Sheriff Ken Merritt), retired Wood County Deputy and current Wirt County Chief Deputy Gary “Mike” Deem and former Corrections Officer-Reserve Deputy and Bailiff Henry “Bud” Williams.

Commission President Blair Couch said the commissioners have reached out to the candidates and did preliminary interviews to gauge their interest in the position.

Originally, the commission was planning on interviewing four of the candidates. Couch said they originally did not feel Williams had the qualifications for the job.

Around 12:20 p.m. Monday, Couch said they would interview all five of the candidates.

Williams contacted The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Monday and said he felt officials were originally trying to cut him out of the process.

He was told that officials were just going to interview the ones with prior law-enforcement experience. Williams said he has done a number of jobs relating to law-enforcement, except being sheriff and being a full deputy. He worked as a corrections officer, civil process officer, he has transported both prisoners and mental patients and more. He received all the training others have with tasers, pepper spray and hand to hand fighting.

He received the Reserve Deputy of the Year Award in 2006.

“I must have done something right down there,” he said.

Williams said he meets the qualifications under the law.

During the commission meeting, officials said the qualifications for sheriff are to be at least 18 years old, a high school graduate, a resident of Wood County and a registered voter.

“Why would they call me and say they don’t want (me) there,” he asked. “That really drops one on my toe and I don’t really like that.

“I try to be square and fair with everyone. They ought to do the same with me. We do not need the ‘good ole boy’ system anymore.”

He feels the department needed new leadership.

“I think I am that new face,” he said.

Williams feels he can work with the deputies down there and has worked with many of them.

“I will do what is right,” he said. “I am for the common good.

“Let’s get someone in there with fresh ideas and keep Wood County right.”

He wants fair consideration for the position. He said he has supporters who have offered to come to the meeting on his behalf.

Wood County Clerk Mark Rhodes said whoever the commission appoints has to be a Republican, a resident of Wood County and a registered voter. The election for the rest of the unexpired term will occur in 2022. The appointee can run in that election along with other Republican and Democratic candidates through the primary and general elections. The appointed person will serve through November 2022 until the election results are certified.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com