Former Democratic Sheriff candidate Mike Hughes endorsed Greg Gonzalez for Douglas County Sheriff on Tuesday.
“As the first Black candidate for Douglas County Sheriff, I can attest Greg Gonzalez is the best candidate for all the voters and neighborhoods of Douglas County,” said Hughes.
Four years ago, Hughes won the Democratic nomination, and in the November election won over 47 percent of the vote against incumbent Republican Tim Dunning.
Said Gonzalez: “I welcome this endorsement, as Mike Hughes joins elected officials and community leaders uniting behind our campaign.”
Hughes noted that Gonzalez has executive level experience in law enforcement, coupled with street-level experience at every rank. Gonzalez is also well known for his involvement in community policing as a founder and leader of a non-profit organization that provides free athletics and mentoring to over 6,000 youth from 38 local zip codes.
“Greg Gonzalez has the experience, education and temperament to be a great sheriff,” Hughes said.
Temperament is a growing issue in the sheriff’s race as Republican candidate Aaron Hanson is facing allegations in one lawsuit that he engaged in racial profiling and is named in another that he used excessive force.
Gonzalez said he is better-equipped than his opponent to address one of the top concerns in this race: a shortage of deputies at the Sheriff’s office.
When he was Deputy Chief of the Omaha Police Department, Gonzalez hired more than 450 officers and recruited the largest and most diverse training classes in the department’s history.
Taxpayers deserve better. Hiring, training and retaining deputies will ensure residents in Douglas County remain safe.
