Ken Magee is running for Washtenaw County Sheriff

Ken Magee (right) is pictured with former President Barack Obama.

submitted by Magee4Sheriff.com

My name is Ken Magee and I’m running to be your sheriff of Washtenaw County. I was born and raised in Ann Arbor and am a longtime resident of Washtenaw County. While many may know me as the owner, along with my wife, Dawn Donnelly, of the Manchester Mill, I also have 30+ years of law enforcement experience — and trust me, I’ve seen it all.

From hunting down Pablo Escobar in Colombia to undercover operations that led to the largest cocaine seizure in the history of Michigan, I have plenty of stories. More importantly, however, I have experiences that taught me the lessons that I will look to apply in Washtenaw County as your sheriff.

At the heart of my campaign, I am looking to save lives. The two main culprits of the pain in Washtenaw County are gun violence and the ever-growing opioid epidemic. I will build teams between the sheriff’s department and community groups, because to solve these crises that are eating at the foundation of our community, we must all come together. The opioid crisis has had its impact on all of us. I lost a brother to a drug overdose so I know firsthand the pain that these substances carry and without strong enforcement this problem will only continue to grow.

To combat the opioid epidemic, I will implement a strategy with the acronym P.E.T.E.R., which stands for: Prevention, Enforcement, Treatment, Education, and Recovery. I go more in depth about the specifics of this plan on my website (magee4sheriff.com).

In recent years, we have seen the landscape of modern policing change quite radically. Washtenaw County deserves a sheriff who will support their officers as they navigate this new landscape. The constant turnover and inability for the current administration to retain qualified employees has led to low morale amongst officers, depleting the staffing levels of the sheriff’s department and making a tough job even harder for employees. I will ensure that all of our officers are trained and equipped for 21st-century policing and that they feel supported not only by me, but by their community.

At the end of the day, Washtenaw County deserves a sheriff who will deliver results that ensure public safety. I am the only candidate prepared to deliver exactly that. I am excited to formally kick off my campaign and I hope you will join me on my journey to save lives in Washtenaw County.

To stay updated on my campaign, follow Ken Magee for Sheriff on Facebook, @magee4sheriff_ on Instagram, @Magee4Sheriff on Twitter, and @thedeaguy on TikTok.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.