Editor’s note: The Clovis News Journal invited Curry County sheriff candidates to write guest columns focused on why they deserve voters’ support. All three candidates are Republicans, and no Democrats are on the ballot. Election Day is Tuesday. I am married to the former Sonja Madera and have three children; two live in Curry County. Sonja and I graduated from Clovis High School. Our three children graduated from Melrose High School. I am a third-generation Curry County resident. We live on the farm my granddad settled in the early 1990s. Sonja and I are members of the Melrose Church of Christ. If I am elected, Allan Collier has consented to be the under sheriff. Most of you know Allan. He is a 20-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police. You know his work ethic and integrity. Allan served his entire career in Curry County. If I am elected, you get Allan as a bonus. All of the candidates have graduated from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. We have all served as sheriff or under sheriff. All candidates have been in the position to form policy and run the sheriff’s department. We should tell you what we did, not what we will do. Don’t be misled by yard signs and promises; vote for the candidate who has proven what he will do. The purpose of the sheriff or any law enforcement officer is to protect the lives and property of your family and mine. The job has many different tasks but only one goal. We are taught at the academy to protect you and your family from any danger and “stop the action” using whatever force is necessary including deadly force. Law enforcement officers are issued and authorized to carry firearms and instructed when and how to use them. I was elected and served two terms as your sheriff. During my first term, I made many changes. The deputies were not in uniform and were driving unmarked vehicles. The deputies went home at 5 o’clock and nobody was working on the weekend. I put the deputies in uniform, marked the patrol cars with official markings, and started night and weekend patrols. We were available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We did that with six deputies and the sheriff. Sarah Benard wrote a letter to the editor in February, reporting she called for a deputy after 2 a.m. and no one was available — she was on her own. If I am elected, I will assure Mrs. Benard, and you, that someone will respond when you call. I have been called out of bed numerous times when I was sheriff to respond when everyone was busy. I started narcotic investigations and arrested many dealers, with cases ranging from pounds of marijuana to multiple ounces of cocaine and heroin worth thousands of dollars. We raided a marijuana plantation southwest of Melrose, confiscating hundreds of plants that were supposed to be sold in Curry County. I promise the deputies will patrol the county 24/7, we will respond immediately to calls, and will work aggressively to protect your families from the drug dealers and anyone else who threatens your family. I urge you to vote for Wesley Myers.