Kiser announces bid for Etowah County sheriff
Retired Col. Leonard H. Kiser has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for sheriff of Etowah County.
“I have the administrative experience required to run this office, and more importantly, I have the desire to see Etowah County become a safe place for raising our families. I will keep our communities and schools safe. I will place a priority on cleaning up the epidemic drug problems, opioid drug crimes and violent crimes, so many of which relate back the rampant illegal drugs found in this county,” Kiser said, “The current sheriff is not doing all he can to combat these crimes, and it’s evident throughout Etowah County.”
“We have to improve the morale of our deputies and give them leadership they can respect," he said. He questioned finances at the county jail, contending tax dollars are being wasted, and said he can turn what he called mismanagement around.
Kiser has 23 years’ law enforcement experience as a deputy sheriff, municipal police officer and state investigator. He had more than 39 years of continuous military service in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.
He holds an associate degree from Gadsden State Community College, where he served as a law enforcement instructor; an undergraduate and master's degree in criminal justice from Jacksonville State University; and a master's degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, along with work at other military schools.
Kiser and his wife, Sherian, have been married more than 22 years, and have two stepdaughters and seven grandchildren.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Kiser announces plan to seek Republican nomination for Etowah sheriff
