Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch is running for sheriff in 2026, and he told 1819 News that his record proves he is the man for the job.
"I'm running again because I love waking up and serving the community each and every morning," said Burch.
Burch said department morale is positive, and any negative feedback is addressed quickly and transparently. He contends his first term has been successful.
"We had no scandals to deal with and overall, I think the community seems to be happy," said Burch. "We get positive comments, positive feedback. When we're in and around the community, especially when I go to different areas and talk with people."
Burch previously ran the Major Crimes Unit and remains actively involved in it. The unit has led a 100% clearance rate in homicides dating back to 2012. Under his leadership, the sheriff's office has also partnered with other local agencies, such as the Prichard Police Department. The sheriff's office took over their major crimes investigations to offer resources and investigations after an increase in gang-related crimes.
When running for sheriff in the last election, Burch vowed to address violent crime and aggressively pursue drug traffickers. He said he has done those things and targeted and incarcerated gang members.
The accomplishments, Burch said, are why voters should support him in the 2026 primary election on May 19. He will be facing off with at least one opponent, former Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine, who announced his candidacy on Monday.
"I've known him [Prine] for a long time," said Burch. "He obviously enjoys campaigning, but I enjoy serving the citizens of this county and will continue to do so if reelected."
Burch was born and raised in Mobile. He served five years in the United States Navy before beginning his law enforcement career at the age of 23. He has served every rank in the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.
"There's not much that I don't know about the inner workings of the sheriff's office, and do you think there's any other candidate who could say that?" Burch said. "If it ain't broke, why change it?"
For the future, Burch hopes to expand the department to offer school resource deputies in every high school and middle school.
As for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, Burch said it is important to vote Republican in Mobile County.
"Conservative values can make or break a society, and Republicans are those with those conservative values," he said. "We've all seen Democrat-run cities, Democrat-run states, and what a dismal failure their systems are. It's not so with Republican-run cities and states."
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