OPELIKA — On Tuesday, candidates in the Lee County sheriff's race for the upcoming May 19 primary faced off in a highly attended forum hosted by the Lee County Republicans at the Opelika Public Library.
The high level of community interest in the event was evident as the 175-seat room was full prior to opening remarks by Lee County Probate Judge Jere Colley. The event opened with a legislative update provided by area lawmakers, State Rep. Kristin Nelson (R-Valley), State Rep. Chris Blackshear (R-Phenix City) and State Sen. Jay Hovey (R-Auburn).
The panel primarily addressed the recent passage of the fiscal year 2027 budget, beginning on October 1, 2026, which was finalized before the end of last week's 2026 legislative session. Highlights also included a 2% pay increase for state employees, as well as an increase in the district attorney’s administrative fund, and a one-time bonus for retired state employees based on years of service in state employment. The final amounts for the general and education budgets, which are funded separately, were around $3.74 billion and $12.4 billion, respectively.
At the conclusion of the legislative update, the main event commenced as the candidates for Lee County sheriff, incumbent Sheriff Jay Jones and challenger Cam Hunt, took the stage, joined by Lee County Republican chair Cole Lawson, as moderator. The forum opened with questions about Jones' dismissal of Hunt from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office after Hunt, then a deputy, informed him of his intention to run against him in the election. Hunt maintained that the decision to run, an expression of private political activity, should not have been punished. In response, Jones noted that the decision to dismiss him was based on a desire to maintain unity within the team, and he said that Hunt "had the opportunity to resign."
Throughout the forum, both candidates were asked to state their positions on several topics, including permit-less carry, which went into effect in 2023; challenges posed by the rapid growth of the Lee County area; the opioid crisis; school safety; and expanding federal partnerships. In closing, Hunt recognized Jones’ successful tenure as sheriff but stressed the need for change. From Jones’ perspective, having been in the position since 1998, that experience is an asset for the future, not a liability.
As the forum wrapped up, Lawson noted that it was critical for attendees to encourage friends, family and neighbors to participate in the upcoming primary. When later asked about the motivation behind hosting the forum, recognizing that the sheriff’s race is the most strongly contested race in the Lee County area, he stated that it was the goal to “give both candidates to have an opportunity to give their platform”.
The next meeting of the Lee County Republicans will be on May 12 at Baumhower’s Victory Grille in Auburn, the last meeting before voters head to the polls statewide a week later on May 19.
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