The reelection campaign of Gov. Kay Ivey has garnered widespread support from the Yellowhammer State law enforcement community.
This week, a slate of law enforcement leaders across the state, which consists of 31 police chiefs and county sheriffs, announced their endorsement of Ivey’s bid to serve a second term as Alabama’s chief executive.
In a statement hailing the public display of support, Ivey pledged to continue her efforts to protect those who serve the state in uniform.
“The men and women who serve our state in law enforcement put their personal health and safety at risk to keep our families and communities safe, ” Ivey said. “Law and order is critical to the future of our state. For Alabama to meet its full potential, we will continue to depend on our brave law enforcement officers who serve selflessly every day to protect Alabamians.”
The governor ripped the “failed leadership” in left-leaning cities around the nation that she said actively side with “rioters and street thugs” rather than law enforcement officials.
“In liberal-run cities across the nation we are seeing crime surge as elected leaders too often take the side of rioters and street thugs while villainizing those who serve and protect in uniform,” stated Ivey. “That is failed leadership and unfair to law enforcement officers who put so much on the line for their communities. As long as I am Governor, I will always back the Blue and make sure that the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep us safe have all the support they need.”
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones expressed excitement over the prospects of Ivey serving a second term in the governor’s mansion.
“Our law enforcement officers are some of the finest members of our community and deserve to have a Governor who has their back,” noted Jones. “I appreciate all of the support the Governor has offered to us over the years – she understands that to keep Alabama safe, we need dedicated law enforcement officers with the resources to do their jobs well. I appreciate her partnership and look forward to working with her in her next term.”
Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge praised Ivey for supporting law and order policies as governor.
“Our law enforcement officers work every day to make sure that our neighbors and our communities are safe. To be able to do our jobs effectively, the support of a strong law-and-order Governor is critical,” he advised. “Governor Ivey has proven time and time again that she stands with law enforcement and will do all she can to help us be successful.”
According to Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner, Ivey has “always has been a strong supporter” of police.
“Governor Ivey is and always has been a strong supporter of the law enforcement community,” proclaimed Turner. “Law enforcement officers have a very challenging job, and it is important that they and their families have a governor who has their back. Governor Ivey has always supported us, so I am excited to support her as she runs for reelection.”
The following law enforcement officials have endorsed Ivey’s reelection bid:
- Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack
- Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade
- Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver
- Clarke County Sheriff DeWayne Smith
- Coffee County Sheriff Dave Sutton
- Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman
- Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson
- Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton
- Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby
- Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver
- Geneva County Sheriff Tony Helms
- Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza
- Lawrence County Sheriff Max Sanders
- Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones
- Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin
- Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner
- Marion County Sheriff Kevin Williams
- Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims
- Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett
- Pickens County Sheriff Todd Hall
- Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego
- St. Clair County Sheriff Billy Murray
- Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore
- Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy
- Walker County Sheriff Nicholas Smith
- Winston County Sheriff Horace Moore
- Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge
- Vestavia Hills Police Chief Danny Rary
- Robertsdale Police Chief Brad Kendrick
- Guntersville Police Chief Jim Peterson
- Enterprise Police Chief Michael Moore
The primary election will be held May 24, 2022. If no candidate garners more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will take place June 21, 2022.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL