The following candidate announcement was submitted by Eric Redd, a Republican running for Limestone County Sheriff. The News Courier will publish candidate announcements as we receive them and as space allows ahead of the Nov. 6 general election. They should be no longer than 700 words and emailed to adam@athensnews-courier.com. Announcements will be edited for length, grammar, style and content.

My name is Eric Christian Redd, and was raised in Limestone County. I was homeschooled in between attending Julian Newman Elementary School, Athens Middle School and Athens High School, earning my diploma in 2000.

Sept. 11, 2001, touched my heart, and I had a calling to defend my country. The day after 9/11, I went to the Army recruiting station and started the process to joining the military.

My military occupation was a 19K. I was a gunner on the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and squad leader.

After earning an honorable discharge from the Army, I came home to Athens and supervised the security and fire responders of plants in Decatur and the Madison/Huntsville area in 2005.

In 2006, I went to work at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant as an instrument and controls designer.

I have owned, operated and managed several businesses.

I now work in electrical engineering and project management. I deal with budgets, deadlines, marketing, overall management and day-to-day operations.

Second Amendment proponent

I have been an outspoken Second Amendment supporter, going to protests and rallies in defense of our constitutional rights. I’m also an open-carry advocate, and I have gone to Montgomery to protest for our rights. I’ve fought for laws that would allow law-abiding citizens to have firearms in their vehicles without permit.

Personal

I married Miranda Johnson on July 23, 2002. We have three children together: Gavin, 13; Wyatt 10; and Lily’Ana Honeybee, 5.

My father, Wade Redd, works in the nuclear and power industry at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant as a project manager. He has also worked as a pit crewman at NASCAR and races at many of the local tracks around Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida.

My mother, Hadassah Rose, owns and operates The Gan Rivkah Center, an extended stay shelter for women and children in Massachusetts and one of the few which are “pet friendly” in the nation. I’m proud of the good works my mother’s organization has accomplished.

Campaign promises

I am running for sheriff of Limestone County because I care deeply about the future of our community. If elected, I will always work to bring honesty, integrity and fiscal responsibility to our sheriff’s office. The following are my campaign promises:

• I will create a task force with the sole purpose of stopping the manufacturing and selling of meth in our county. Many think they are untouchable because of family ties to the current sheriff’s administration;

• A major problem in our country is human trafficking and pedophiles. I’ll work with other departments to put an end to our state highways and interstates being used for human trafficking;

• Our sheriff’s office should have in-depth training on the Constitution. Our deputies swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. It’s the foundation of our legal system and every officer should always focus on protecting our liberties;

• We need an audit of the department’s budget and equipment. I’ll focus on streamlining the budget and stop unnecessary expenses such as an airplane;

• All deputies should be required to wear body cameras. This will protect our officers and citizens alike. It’s an expense that could save the department a high-dollar lawsuit;

• Our current sheriff’s administration often turns a blind eye to illegal immigrants driving with no insurance and false credentials. Many illegals fled their country of origin after violating their own laws. They came to the United States and are actively ignoring our laws and completely disregarding our legal system;

• If elected as your sheriff, I plan to speak with legislators to pass a constitutional carry law. Permits will still be needed to cross state lines because of state reciprocity.

• I’ll work to implement a better plan for school safety. Possible alternatives are deputizing, training and equipping faculty that would be unknown to the public;

• Offer firearms safety and awareness training any Limestone County citizen who wishes to can attend at no cost; and

• Offer firearm safety and awareness training to every school in our county. Too many accidents happen that could have been avoided by providing our youth with common sense gun safety education.