Decision Made - Which I Personally Think Is A Huge Mistake - But Andy Hughes Says NO To County Commission Chairman

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 6003

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 14 2017 10:37 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:     This past week in a conversation that I initiated, I spoke with Andy Hughes about his seeking election as Houston County Commission Chairman. Hughes confirmed to me that several people have spoke to him about running for Chairman. 

Hughes and I spoke about a couple of issues he had. Some phone calls were made and those issues could be solved easily. And with Andy Hughes permission I posted, FACEBOOKED, Instragram and Snapchatted that he was being talked to about running for Houston County Commission Chairman.

Today I received a call that Hughes told someone yesterday that he was not going to seek election as Chairman. That serving as a commissioner was not something that he wanted to do. We spoke for a few minutes. Andy is someone I consider a friend and I was honest of some things that I felt he needed to consider.

I strongly urged Hughes to think about running for Houston County Commission Chairman. That he could easily beat Mark Culver, and Houston County needed someone honest as Chairman. Hughes still closed the door.

So first, it was with his permission that I posted people were talking to him about runnning for Chairman. I still beleive in my heart that is the right thing in 2018 for Hughes to seek election as Commission Chairman.

Hughes served almost two terms as Houston County Sheriff. After qualifying for the third term, unopposed, and immediately following the deadline for anyone to qualify for Sheriff, Hughes announced that he was leaving the Sheriff Department to take a position with the Alabama Department of Law Enforcement.

By waiting, that left no chance of anyone to qualify to run for Sheriff. And that left the decision of who would be Sheriff to some 70 "chosen" republicans.

They selected Donald Valenza to serve as Sheriff. Valenza started under Houston County Sheriff A.B. Clark, then Sheriff Lamar Haddenm then Sheriff Lamar Glover, and then Sheriff Andy Hughes.

When Valenza was contacted if he was interested in being Sheriff, he said I have never thought about it. He never dreamed Andy Hughes would leave. He would not committ until he spoke with Andy Hughes.

After about 15 minutes Valenza threw his hat in the ring and was selected Houston County Sheriff. He has worked hard, been dedicated to the people of Houston County since 1979. He worked his way from jailer to Sheriff.

Valenza stays with a case and works cases hard with details. He has personally worked and got convictions on many capital murder cases.

Andy Hughes was a good Sheriff. He did get caught up with a liar who thought he knew what he was doing. And that liar is Spencer Collier. The failed first leader of the Alabama Department of Law Enforcement. Hughes was made many promises that Collier failed to deliver. Just before all the crap hit the fan in ALEA Hughes retired.

It would be a great fit for Hughes to be the Chairman of the Houston County Commission. Mark Culver has long over stayed his welcome.

And that Donald Valenza remain Sheriff another four years.

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