Why are you running for office?
The office of sheriff has always been a career goal of mine, and I have served this community for more than 30 years with this goal in mind. I have worked hard to serve my community in a professional manner and have always treated people fairly. I am seeking the office of sheriff to provide better leadership and to establish goals and vision for our agency. Our agency is made up of officers who do a great job, and I will work hard to ensure Hancock County is a safe place to live, work and raise a family.
What makes you a qualified candidate for the position?
I have held every position at the sheriff’s office, from jail officer to acting sheriff. I understand what it takes to perform each function at the sheriff’s office. I can lead our officers and promote a positive work environment to ensure we are providing the best service to our community. I understand the challenges our community is facing, and I can provide our agency with the leadership it will require to face those challenges.
What are your top three goals for the position?
Obviously the opioid drug problem and dealing with citizens who have a mental illness are the concern of law enforcement nationwide. I will work with the rest of our criminal justice system to get programs in place to better deal with these issues.
Secondly, we need to address the overpopulation issue at the jail. We need to establish programs to deal with young offenders in order to keep them from reoffending.
Lastly, I will establish goals and vision for our entire agency to ensure that we are providing our citizens with the services they need and deserve.
Do you support construction of a new criminal justice complex? Why or why not?
I do not support the construction of a new Criminal Justice Complex. I think the tax dollars would be better spent in expanding our work release center. This would allow offenders who are eligible for work release to provide for themselves and their families with very little expense to the taxpayers. Our current jail is structurally sound and we must find a way to reduce crime and the need to warehouse people.
Aside from drug enforcement, what other specialized enforcement should the county consider?
Drug enforcement will always be one of my top priorities. Crimes such as burglary, robbery and theft are usually the result of drug dependency. Working to reduce drug addiction will naturally reduce these crimes.
We need to do more to keep young and first-time offenders from becoming repeat offenders. As a school resource officer, I witness the positive influence our officers can provide for our youth. Working with young offenders to see that they do not become career criminals will always be a top priority of mine as well.
Identify a strength of the current administration and one area that needs improvement.
I am pleased that the current sheriff has allowed me to continue my work with Neighborhood Crime Watch and the law enforcement explorer post. CrimeWatch is a free program provided locally to help reduce crime in our neighborhoods, and the Explorer post is a program allowing high school students interested in law enforcement to learn about the profession.
Improvement is needed in leadership due to a lack of vision and goals for our agency. Without goals and objectives, it is difficult to measure the success of our officers and where we can improve. I can provide that leadership. I am the right person to lead our agency going forward and I would appreciate your vote on May 8th.
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Name: Donald “Donnie” Munden
Age: 51
Party: Republican
Office sought: Hancock County Sheriff
Occupation: lieutenant, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
Political experience: Former Republican candidate for sheriff
Family: Wife Rita, three children
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