Brett Jones becomes Alabama’s first openly gay sheriff after defeating two-term Republican
Democrat Brett Jones has been elected sheriff in Madison County, Alabama, defeating incumbent Kevin Turner and becoming the state’s first out gay sheriff.
Jones unseated Turner, a two-term Republican, after campaigning on jail reform and ending the sheriff’s office contracts for Flock licence plate reader cameras, a form of automated surveillance technology used by law enforcement. Jones argued that access to people’s movements through the cameras raises privacy concerns, and pledged to end the office’s Flock contracts. He also said he would require warrants for the use of licence plate readers he could not remove.
More about Brett Jones
Jones also made transparency and accountability in the county jail and sheriff’s department central to his pitch. The SPLC Action Fund said his platform called for each death in custody to be examined through an independent public review, for deputies to meet tougher training requirements, and for more support to be provided to people after they leave the county jail.
On his campaign website, Jones framed his message around public safety, writing: “My goal is simple: help make Madison County one of the safest counties in America.”
His campaign website also says his SEAL team deployed two weeks after the 9/11 2001 terror attacks, and that he later worked with the CIA’s Global Response Staff providing protection overseas.
That work previously brought Jones national attention under different circumstances. Jones lodged an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint in 2015, alleging he faced antigay harassment while deployed to Afghanistan, which he said made him fear for his life. Months later, he told ABC News: “All the issues have been resolved to our mutual satisfaction.”
Another LGBTQ+ first in Madison County
Jones’ victory was not the only LGBTQ+ breakthrough in the Huntsville-area county on election night. Democrat Allison Montgomery defeated Republican incumbent Phillip Rigsby in Alabama House District 25, becoming the first out transgender person elected to the Alabama Legislature.
Montgomery’s win also flipped the seat from a Republican incumbent to a Democrat, as covered in our report on Alabama’s first out transgender state lawmaker.
