I would like to thank all of you for your friendship over the last 18 years at the Sheriff’s Office.  First of all I want to assure you that every employee not directly appointed by the Sheriff as provided by policy and statute, will have a job when I am elected.  I have no intentions of repeating the staggering job turnover of the last 10 years.  I have learned a lot over the last several years by the way I was treated and the way many other employees were treated.  I also learned way more than I wanted to while being a member of the current Sheriff’s administration for over ten years. 

I understand that sometimes we all make mistakes; however I believe that people are the infrastructure of the Sheriff’s Office.   When there is a problem it should be managed at the time it is a problem, not saved and used later as a tactic of bullying.  If morale is where it should be, employee files should be lopsided with praise, not full of negative evaluations and discipline. Employees should receive recognition for a job well done, commendations for doing the job above and beyond and incentives for excellent work and physical fitness.  This recognition should take place personally as well as publicly when appropriate.  Recognizing employees only in an occasional blanket memo and once a year at a Christmas party or during an election year is not acceptable.

We are going to actually follow policy, not just when we choose or want to target someone who disagrees with administration. I will implement actual involvement with employees on decisions that affect them and the work environment.   As a government employee you will have the same expectations as a citizen or as the constitution provides, innocent until proven guilty by an impartial investigation and correct due process.  This will be after the slate is wiped clean and a pattern of “past practice” in regards to consistent and fair discipline is established and followed.

We will follow the policy that allows an employee to file a grievance against an elected official this includes the Sheriff.  Why should an elected official be exempt from the process?

Gone, will be the days of October and November of 20ll when we lost multiple good deputies to other agencies.   My pledge is to work with all employees to have an office, in which, if any employee is looking at leaving it will be the hardest decision of their lives.   For years I have heard ex-employees state the best thing they ever did was leave Madison County.  I will be a “working sheriff” hand in hand with all of the different positions within the office, not just until the Elk Ranch is open and during election years.

I promise each of you that I will not put your job at risk because of vindictiveness by asking for your endorsement.  I only ask that you approach the election this year with an understanding that I am committed and dedicated to providing the best service to Madison County that we can provide.  If the morale is high in the office and employees are confident in their jobs, in their supervisors and protected by the administration because they are following the policy correctly it will reflect in our commitment to the public. 

You know my work ethics and abilities. I will be in the trenches working hand in hand with you.   We will achieve all that we set out to accomplish and then you will be recognized for your efforts and a job well done.  I am asking for your support to elect me your working Sheriff.  Write in Travis Williams Madison County Sheriff.