Office: Shelby County Sheriff:

John Samaniego

Party: Republican

Age: 66

Residence: Shelby County

Political races run: Shelby County Sheriff, 2014

Political offices held: Shelby County Sheriff, 2015–present

Professional experience:  Shelby County sheriff, 2015–present; Shelby County sheriff’s office chief deputy, 2003–2015; Tuscaloosa Police Department, aassistant chief of police, 2001–2003; commander, West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, 1991–2001. Samaniego has also served as a patrol supervisor, narcotics investigator, detective and patrolman. Board member, Shelby County Community Corrections; charter member of the Alabama Narcotics Officers Association, 1983–present; past state president of the Alabama Fraternal Order of Police; president of the Alabama Chapter of the FBI National Academy, 2005–2007; commissioner of the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, 1997–2007; Tuscaloosa County Drug Court, 1999–2003.

Civic experience: Board member of the Owens House of Shelby County Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education, 199-2001; appointed member of the Governor’s Commission on School Violence, 1993–1994; Executive Planning Committee for Alabama Schools for Alcohol and other drug studies, 1995–2003; president of Partnership for a Drug Free Tuscaloosa County, 1996–1998.

Education: FBI National Academy, 176^th Session; DEA Drug Unit Commander Course; U.S. Secret Service Executive Protection Training Program; juris doctorate from the Birmingham School of Law; the University of Alabama Law Enforcement Academy; bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Alabama.

Main issues: Samaniego, a veteran with more than 40 years of law enforcement experience, said that serving as Shelby County’s sheriff has been the greatest honor of his career.

“I believe everyone in Shelby County should have the same basic freedoms: the freedom to raise a family in a safe community, the freedom to send your children to school and know they will be safe, the freedom to drive on our roadways confident they are safeguarded,” he said.

“My single mission is to use every resource available to make sure you are safe and secure in your home, at your place of work and at your church,” he added. “I will continue to strive to ensure that our children are safe at school, and we are meeting the safety needs and concerns of all citizens in Shelby County.”

Top Contributors: Bill Pope, $2,000; Wilson J. Dinsmore, $1,000; Hugh B. Jacks, $1,000; Lumpkin Development, LLC, $1,000; The Reeves Group, LLC, $500; Wade Bail Bonding, $500; A.C. Legg Packing Co.; $500; Issis and Sons Carpet and Oriental Rugs, $500; Herb Robbins, Jr., $500; The William Lett Group, $500; Edwin Atchison, $500; Leroy McAbee, $500; Richard F. Olive, $500.

Campaign: johnsamaniego.com