Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones defended his recent firing of Deputy Sheriff Cam Hunt after Hunt announced a run for sheriff in 2026.
Jones fired Hunt, a Marine veteran, last week after Hunt notified Jones he would be challenging Jones in 2026, according to a termination letter obtained by the East Alabama Examiner.
Hunt said in a statement last week, “Let me be clear: no one should ever be threatened or silenced for exercising their rights as private citizens. Off-duty political beliefs are protected by the Constitution.”
Jones responded in a statement to WRBL on Monday by saying, “Former Deputy Hunt informed me of his intentions to qualify as a candidate for Lee County Sheriff this past Tuesday. Based on recent events, it is clear that he had been planning a campaign prior to our meeting.”
“He could have chosen to resign before starting his campaign, and his resignation would have been accepted. He chose not to do so. As a result, his employment was terminated,” Jones told the outlet. “Having an employee actively seeking to challenge the leadership of an organization has a high probability of creating dissension and loss of team unity within the organization. In the case of a law enforcement agency, the primary mission of providing for the safety of the public would be adversely affected. The people of Lee County deserve to have dedicated and caring professionals working as a team in their Sheriff’s Office. The constitution of the State of Alabama designates Sheriffs as constitutional officers, and they are at-will employers.”
Hunt said on Tuesday on Facebook, “I’ve been honest and transparent from the very beginning. Unfortunately, this [WRBL] article contains several claims that are neither. I will be releasing a full statement soon to address those in detail.”
“That said, I want to address one critical point right now: Why has Sheriff Jones refused to make a clear, public statement affirming that deputies are free to support my candidacy, or any candidacy, while off duty, without fear of retaliation or termination?” Hunt said. “If Sheriff Jones truly respects the constitutional rights of his deputies, I challenge him to say so publicly. And for anyone who would question my integrity, I’ll say this: countless Marines and law enforcement officers can vouch for my character and service. Can the same be said of those who would question it?”
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