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Category: Elections Elections
Published: 02 April 2014 02 April 2014

As a lifelong resident of Grant County, I am a 1988 graduate of Cobre High School and a graduate of the WNMU Police Academy.

With a total of 23 years law enforcement experience I have specialized training in gang and drug intervention, critical incident management, SWAT, budget and management, first line supervisor, instructor development and advanced accident investigations. Since becoming the Sheriff I have attended many leadership and human re.sources training to assist me in becoming a better leader for this office.

I started my law enforcement career in 1990 and have been a law enforcement officer ever since. I have worked for the Hurley Police Department, Silver City Police Department and the Grant County Sheriff's Department.

In September 2009 I was appointed the Grant County Sheriff by the Board of Grant County Commissioners and in 2010 I was elected by you the citizens of this county.
It has been a distinct honor to have been elected for this office based on my qualifications and character.

Since being elected I have re-implemented the D.A.R.E. program back in our area schools, have been pro-active in establishing several neighborhood watch programs, implemented a K-9 program, involved in solving one of our unsolved murders and continued to have a proactive approach in our community. I have been able to provide over 5000 hours of training to my staff. I have been managing a budget of over 5 million dollars and bringing positive change and much needed improvements in equipment and operations.

I currently sit on numerous boards to include El Refugio, Grant County Community Health Council, Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority to name a few. I am a member of the National, Western States and New Mexico Sheriff's Associations, Fight Crime Invest in Kids and was recently elected as a City Councilman for the City of Bayard.

My plan if re-elected is to continue to have an open door policy, provide excellent service to the community and continue to provide training to my staff. I will continue to work diligently on solving the remaining unsolved cases we have and working with our youth and schools in the community.

As a part of this community, I want you the citizens to know that if re-elected; I will continue to serve as your Sheriff to the best of my abilities with the utmost professionalism and respect that you deserve, offering you accountability, honesty and integrity. I am dedicated, experienced, community-oriented, proactive and a proud father of six children and a grandparent of one. I am a hands on Sheriff that will be available to you the citizens of Grant County. I currently reside in Bayard with my wife Stacey Villanueva.

Sheriff Raul Villanueva told the Beat that he wants to continue working for the people of Grant County. "We are going in the right direction."