The Houston County Sheriff Race

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: SamPhuchew
Date: May 14 2018 9:21 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:     The politics is heating up.

HOUSTON COUNTY SHERIFF DONALD VALENZA

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza is being challenged by former Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes and former Houston County Sheriff Lt. Randy Anderson.

Sheriff Donald Valenza has been with Houston County Sheriff Department for some 39 years. He has risen in the ranks from a Corrections Officer all the way through to being the Houston County Sheriff.

During Valenza’s tenure with the department he has always put the service to the people of Houston County first. Most of his tenure was spent in Criminal Investigation Division. He has normally taken a second vehicle from his wife and daughter to events because of being on call and having to leave. 

That practice continued during his tenure as Sheriff. Still putting the people first.

Donald Valenza has never played the politics game. Some decisions were not popular, but he has stuck by the principal that politics did not make the decisions, just the facts.

ANDY HUGHES

Former Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes is challenging Donald Valenza. After serving two terms, the people of Houston County were giving Andy Hughes a third term, unopposed. Andy Hughes waited until time that anyone could qualify to run for Sheriff and abruptly resigned. 

Hughes left the Houston County Sheriff position to take one with Alabama Homeland Security as Assistant Homeland Security Director. This job would be a six figure job and help Hughes’ retirement significantly.

The position was with the Robert Bentley Administration and the failure that Bentley appointed to run Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Hughes was given a choice - move to Montgomery or retire. He decided to retire.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza allowed Andy Hughes to return in a part time capacity. But Hughes was steadily running for election as Sheriff. That caused the once “friendship” to end and Hughes leaving the department, again.

Now Hughes wants to unseat Donald Valenza and return as Sheriff - the position he vacated to pursue the six figure job with the State of Alabama.

RANDY ANDERSON

Randy Anderson served in the schools the majority of his tenure with Houston County Sheriff Department. Anderson was a School Resource Officer working with the schools in the county.

Anderson said in his announcement that he had worked in all divisions of the Sheriff Department in his tenure. This was not factual and he has since backed away from that statement.

While Anderson is a good guy, he does not have the management experience in order to serve as Houston County Sheriff. The top cop of the county requires a lot more expertise in a county the size of Houston County.

THE CHOICE

If Andy Hughes had wanted to remain Houston County Sheriff, he should have honored the people of Houston County who honored him. The people were giving him 4 years unopposed, and he abruptly left in pursuit of a six figure income.

Donald Valenza has remained with Houston County Sheriff Department. He has been faithful to the Sheriff’s he served and people of Houston County.

When Andy Hughes announced his sudden resignation Donald Valenza was asked “do you want to be the Houston County Sheriff?”  “Everyone is saying that you have never expressed interest in being the Sheriff?” And Donald Valenza’s ( then Chief Deputy to Andy Hughes ) replied “ I never thought Andy was leaving, I have to call Andy”.

Before Donald Valenza would commit to putting his name in the hat for Houston County Sheriff, his loyalty to Andy Hughes was so strong that he had to check with Andy first. 

Since working for Sheriff A.B. Clark, Lamar Haden, Lamar Glover and Andy Hughes, one thing Donald Valenza has always been was loyal. And until he discussed his putting his name in the hat for Sheriff with Andy, he was not going to give an answer.

Thus the some 70 people of the Houston County Republican Committee selected Donald Valenza to take the place of Andy Hughes.

While I respected Andy, he made a conscious decision to pursue A six figure salary than honor the people of Houston County who honored him with another four years unopposed.

Donald Valenza deserves the opportunity to serve the people of Houston County with another four years as Houston County Sheriff.

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