The Sheriff’s Race – Villanueva’s Wimpy Win

By Frost McGahey

The results of the Grant County Sheriff’s race are:
Raul Villanueva                5,514
                                                          Jim Lee                                  2,552
                                                         Manuel J. Maldonado          2,842
                                                                                                        5,394
Villanueva won by only 120 votes. And at one voting station, a poll worker said there were about 15 to 20 ballots where the write-in circle was marked but no name was listed.

This was a close win perhaps due to the radio ads on the Dan Bongino show pointing out that under Villanueva’s leadership:1. He wouldn’t buy guns and the necessary equipment for his deputies.
2. He wouldn’t raise deputy salaries higher than his own.
3. Officers were so discouraged by his management, 10 of the 40 deputy positions were vacant. Villanueva did his own defunding of the police.

For a write-in candidate, Maldonado did exceptionally well. Articles in the Grant County beat described that he and Sheriff Frank Gomez had improved the sheriff’s department by:

1. Buying guns and equipment for the deputies.
2. Raising deputy salaries above what Frank earned.
3. Arranging for psychological counseling for deputies and their families.

Hopefully, Villanueva won’t do a Biden on the sheriff’s department and destroy all the good work his predecessor had done.

Hopefully, the next time there is a sheriff’s election, a person will run as a Republican knowing that they have a good shot at winning.