Sheriff Runs Campaign on Upholding US Constitution
Steve Kendley
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
I am writing you to tell you of a major plan that I am undertaking after great personal reflection and prayer.
Please allow me to give you some background.
I have had a varied life, holding many great occupations and hobbies, but one constant interest since I was a young boy is my love for firearms. It was this interest that caused our paths to cross. You could not know that my interest in firearms led me, through complicated circumstances, to take a huge chance several years ago. I began to study with great interest the importance of the elected “Office of Sheriff” and explore how unique the “Office” is and more importantly may become in our future. I learned that the Sheriff is the “Chief Law Enforcement Officer” elected by the people in every county. As I researched more, I became more excited. I believe the “Office of Sheriff” is a check and balance that the founders of this country must have counted on to protect the very document and its ideals that have held our country together these centuries. As “Chief Law Enforcement Officer”, the sheriff is elected by the people to be the last protector, standing in the gap, to guard our freedoms at the individual level. The sheriff, if he knows his true authority, is the grass roots defender of the Constitution. In fact, though most do not know it, the selection of your sheriff has probably more potential to affect each citizen’s welfare than their choice of president. It is not advertised as such, but it is true that the Sheriff, besides being sworn to uphold the Constitution, is the leader of the militia in each county of the United States!
In Montana there is now an attempt to put legislation in front of the voters called the “Sheriff First Law”. This law will require any Federal Law Enforcement Agency to get the permission of the county sheriff first, before undertaking any action in a county (as it should be). The sheriff would then have the power to approve or veto that request! Imagine constitutionally aware sheriffs protecting their citizens from abuses that threaten them and having the authority to hold those agents accountable for their actions.
The Montana Firearms Freedom Act is serving as a model for other states. I have heard more than twenty states have now adopted similar legislation. These concepts could spread and have a huge affect for the cause of freedom…
I left a secure job in 2005 and at age 47, put myself through the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. At the culmination of that course, I was administered the “Oath of Office“, by the Attorney General of the State of Montana. Memories of an earlier administering of that same oath came back to me. You see, when I took my first “Oath of Office” in front a Marine Recruiter at age 19, it flipped a switch in me. I meant every word of that Oath. I again renewed the literal meaning of every word when I repeated that Oath as a peace officer.
Sheriff Runs Campaign on Upholding US Constitution 190110banner4
My first offer of employment which I accepted was a much lower paying job than I had left. I was hired on the night shift as a small town police officer. Had I known how difficult the path I was taking would be, I might never have taken this plunge. Within a year and a half I was hired by my county’s sheriff’s office. One sad thing really bothered me. I met some officers who did not understand or remember that they had taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. I even met a few who, when shown a pocket U.S. Constitution which I carry, thought it was “right wing propaganda”!
I worked hard to win peoples trust and soon became a detective. I continued to see a wide variety of officers. Many are good people. Others however, seemed interested in power, exercising authority and running up their statistics as if this made them better officers… Sometimes I wondered if I had the right personality for the job, but often I met citizens who tell me how much they appreciate a compassionate officer. Now I know that I am working in the right place at the right time…
I began to look at how the power struggle for the upcoming sheriff’s election was heating up and I realized that I have no choice but to jump into an area where I never expected to go- politics. I am running as an Independent for the Office of Sheriff for Lake County Montana. My campaign will be unique in that I am basing the first “plank” of my campaign on upholding the Oath of Office to defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Montana from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Steve, you may not feel this is an appropriate request, but this Independent campaign is going to require a lot of foot work, money and a lot of information to get to the citizens of Lake County. I am asking you to consider allowing me to appeal to your readers to contribute to this campaign, no matter where they live in the hope that it will succeed and candidates of like mind will spread throughout this country. I believe in the coming years this may be key to holding those who are against us at bay and giving hope to a future where again those simple principals that founded this Nation may flourish.
If you can, pass this on to your readers. Please do remember me in your prayers. If you will allow this message, please ask your readers to see my web site at
www.sheriffkendley.com Thank you for all you do.
Sincerely,
Steve Kendley
