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Photo courtesy of Chris Carlsson/SC Sheriff's Association

Oconee County Sheriff James Singleton, left, is sworn in as the 95th president of the South Carolina Sheriff's Association by his son, Seneca Municipal Judge Danny Singleton.

WALHALLA — Oconee County Sheriff James E. Singleton recently added a feather to his cap by being elected president of the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association.

In so doing, Singleton becomes just the second Oconee sheriff to hold the position. Singleton’s predecessor, Earl Holcombe, was president for six months before retiring in 1991.

“It’s an honor and a privilege for me to do this,” Singleton said Tuesday. “I’ve been with the Association since I was elected Oconee sheriff 16 years ago.”

Singleton’s son, Seneca Municipal Judge Danny Singleton, administered the oath of office to his father during the Association’s annual conference held Aug. 10-14 at Myrtle Beach. Singleton was particularly proud that his son not only administered the oath to him but to the entire 2008-09 Board of Directors.

“He (Danny Singleton) swore me in at my last election in Oconee,” Singleton said. “That was one of the fine things about being elected president of the Association.”

As its 95th president, Singleton will preside over all quarterly and special meetings and work closely with Executive Director Jeff Moore on issues of importance to the organization.

Founded in 1913, the Association provides educational support to the state’s sheriffs and their personnel. Over the years, the group also has become active in helping to shape policies related to law enforcement matters.

Singleton said issues he wants to tackle during his one-year term as president includes jail overcrowding.

“It’s going to take each county working with councilmen and administrators to get more jail space,” Singleton said. “In our county, the council is sort of leaning toward adding an annex and getting that into the budget pretty soon.”

Singleton said another area of interest to sheriffs statewide is how illegal immigration will impact county jails. He said the Association is trying to get federal money to fund a plan to build three regional jails exclusively for illegal immigrants. Singleton said such a plan would cost about $15 million.

As part of addressing the illegal immigration problem, Singleton said sheriffs will turn their attention to cracking down on employers that hire illegals immigrants.