The Kay Ivey for Governor campaign announced on Monday that over 30 law enforcement officials across the state have endorsed Ivey just two weeks before the Republican primary. The campaign claimed that the endorsements represent overwhelming support from Alabama’s law enforcement community.
Ivey thanked the 31 out of Alabama's 67 sheriffs who endorsed her.
“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.
“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. 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 said, “Our law enforcement officers are some of the finest members of our community and deserve to have a governor who has their back. 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 commented, “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. Gov. Ivey has proven time and time again that she stands with law enforcement and will do all she can to help us be successful.”
“Crime is skyrocketing in states across the country – but here in Alabama, we’re keeping our streets safe," stated Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy. "Kay Ivey deserves a lot of credit for keeping what is happening in blue states out of Alabama, and I am happy to support her in her reelection.”
Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack said, “It’s no secret that law enforcement has been made the target of many on the left who choose to side with criminals and thugs over the officers who put their lives on the line to serve and protect. It means so much to us in the law enforcement community to have a governor who supports us and backs the blue. I would encourage all of those who support law enforcement to support Kay Ivey at the polls on May 24.”
“Governor Ivey is and always has been a strong supporter of the law enforcement community," Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner stated. "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 given their endorsement to Governor Ivey for reelection:
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
Ivey was also endorsed by a number of municipal police chiefs including:
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
Ivey faces eight challengers in the Republican primary.
Lindy Blanchard, Lew Burdette, Stacy George, Ivey, Tim James, Donald Trent Jones, Dean Odle, Dave Thomas, and Dean Young are all running for the Republican nomination for governor.
Yolanda Rochelle Flowers, Patricia Salter Jamieson, Arthur Kennedy, Chad “Chig” Martin, Malika Sanders Fortier and Doug “New Blue” Smith are all running for the Democratic nomination.
Both primaries are on May 24.
The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election on Nov. 8.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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