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To many residents in Colorado County, the first Sheriff’s election in over four decades could not have been between two better candidates. Wendy Alley, a captain of the Columbus Police Department, and Justin Lindemann, the Chief Deputy of the Sheriff’s Office, both campaigned for the lead position of the county office before Lindemann was selected to take over the position for his current leader, R.H. “Curly” Wied.
While the two candidates were competing for votes, the campaign between the two could be described as one of the friendliest and healthiest political competitions for an office of that nature. Both candidates showed the mutual respect between law enforcement officers at the top of their respective departments and the shared passion for improving the community.
New Sheriff Lindemann had always prided himself on his family values and commitment to doing the right thing. The teachings from his family and his faith helped to keep his moral compass pointing towards true north as he worked his way up the ranks at the County Sheriff’s Office. That moral compass even made elements of the campaign difficult as he competed against his friend, Captain Alley.
“I quickly learned during my campaign that I would experience a range of emotions,” Lindemann said, “This was a challenging and unforgettable experience not only for me, but also for my family.”
Alley has been guided in her life by a similar moral compass, and the two kindred spirits shared a passion for justice and protecting their communities. While Alley’s campaign did not conclude with her accepting the position of Sheriff, she came away with a lot of lessons and a new perspective. She was appreciative for the “love and support” she received during her campaign.
Alley expressed her takeaways from the campaign and her support for Lindemann’s tenure as the new leader of the county agency.
“[The campaign] taught me a lot; mostly about myself, but about those around me too,” Alley said, “I look forward to seeing where Justin Lindemann takes the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office. Wishing him and all there God’s blessings.”
Regardless of which candidate residents selected, both candidates are well-respected pillars of community law enforcement.
“I am proud that both of us ran a clean campaign and put our community first,” Lindemann said, “Moving forward, we will continue to work together for the betterment of our community.”
When Lindemann first saw the results, he was “extremely humbled and grateful” that the residents of Colorado County entrusted the future of the Sheriff’s Office into his hands.
Lindemann hopes to bring his faith to the forefront as he leads Colorado County into the future. As one of the youngest candidates on the ballot, Lindemann is bringing new angles and ways of thinking to the position. He has three main goals to address during his tenure as sheriff: Limit and stop the drug issues regarding the sale and abuse of illicit substances.
Deter crime at all levels. Preparing for expected population growth.
He also wants to utilize more available federal and state grants to handle expenses for equipment, staffing and crime prevention to help ease the tax burden on county residents. Lindemann is hoping to lessen the strain of tax as he looks to expand the department to match the incoming population growth. Lindemann left a statement for the residents of Colorado County as he and the rest of the local law enforcement agencies prepare for a new era of life in rural Texas.
“I stand firmly behind my campaign slogan, ‘I am guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness,’” Lindemann said, “These values were instilled in me by my great-grandparents, who taught me the importance of responsibility, integrity, and community service. As Sheriff, I will be accessible to all citizens and work tirelessly to make our community safer.”
While the conclusion of the first Sheriff’s election in decades resulted in a win for Lindemann, the community can rest easy knowing the decision was made between two candidates dedicated to protecting and advancing the community; a trait shared throughout each member of police departments throughout Colorado County.
