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Kenneth Martin, Jr. is announcing his candidacy for the office of Washington Parish Sheriff.

Four years ago, I entered the campaign for Sheriff of Washington Parish. I had to suspend my campaign due to an unexpected deployment with the military. On this deployment I served as the Deputy Director of Combined Joint Engineers in Afghanistan with the 4^th Infantry Division. I am a lifelong resident of Washington Parish and a devoted husband and father. I have 2 beautiful daughters, Ella Rose Martin and Mary Elizabeth Martin. My wife, Angela Martin, is a registered nurse in the Washington Parish health care system. During Hurricane Katrina, Bogalusa floods, and tornadoes that struck our area, I was serving our parish as a leader with the Louisiana National Guard.  I have a DSCA Level II certification that will allow me to better serve the Sheriff’s Office when we must work with other officials and departments in the parish and surrounding areas during times of disaster.

I have a Master’s Degree in Geological Engineering from Missouri Science and Technology. I worked in the Emergency Operation Center with NASA in Michoud, Louisiana. I am currently a state employee with the Louisiana Military Department as the Contracts and Quality Assurance Manager which requires me to manage a 50-million-dollar budget each year.

Under my administration I plan to add more patrol deputies.  We will fund these new hires by cutting the salaries of the top 5 positions in the department and reallocating that money for the additional deputies. I will promote a positive culture in the Sheriff’s department that will assure the citizens that the focus will be on serving the people.  I will place a strong emphasis for all peace officers to be trained in de-escalation of force. This training will drive home the question of, “Is this morally justified, or is there another option?” It will include how to speak to citizens and how to treat them with dignity and respect, while maintaining control of the situation.

I am involved in our children’s sports in Washington Parish as a basketball and football coach. I have seen firsthand that the opioid epidemic is destroying too many lives on a daily basis.  Our children are our future, and their lives are in jeopardy. We must act now. I will reinstitute a program that educates youth at an early age about the dangers of drugs because I believe knowledge is power.

The citizens are told that the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office does not have money. This is not true. I have a plan that will allow us to hire more deputies and provide raises. This will be a major step in decreasing crime and slowing the drug epidemic. I will be with you every step of the way as we rebuild the culture of the Sheriff’s Department for a better tomorrow. I have served our country, I have served our state, and I have served our Parish. I am asking for your support to make me, Kenneth Martin Jr. your next sheriff. Let this election be about leadership and not about politics.

You can contact me at 985-335-7001 or visit www.KennethMartinForSheriff.com