By Keith Merritt

My name is Keith Merritt and I am running for re-election to continue to be your Orange County Sheriff for the next four years. I do not consider myself a politician, but instead a very proud public servant. I am running on the Republican ticket.

I have been your Sheriff for the past seven years. I won the election as your Sheriff and took office on January 1, 2009. I did not have an opponent for my second four year term as your Sheriff.

I am asking for your continued support again for the March 1, 2016 Primary election to serve another four year term as your Sheriff.

Many people have supported my career in Law Enforcement that began in 1979 when I first started out as a Reserve Deputy for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. I served as a Pct. One Reserve Deputy Constable for the late Constable Jack Thompson. I then went on to become the Constable for Pct. One for fourteen years, then ran and was elected and took office as your Sheriff on January 2009. I currently hold a Master Peace Officers certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. With that said, I wish to thank the many people that have supported me over the past 36 years not only in my Law Enforcement career but also as a friend.

From 1989 to 2004 I was the trainer and handler for two Orange County drug dogs, Ali and Thor. This was a very rewarding experience for me. The K-9 program was a huge success for area Law Enforcement and the citizens of Orange County, confiscating over $8,000,000 worth of narcotics and properties. During this time I gave over 300 demonstrations and Drug Awareness talks using drug dogs Ali and Thor to all area schools in Orange County helping to educate over 30,000 students about the dangers of drugs.

I have been married to Marlene Hennigan Merritt for the past 46 years. We have two sons, Robert 42, and Craig 39, three grandchildren Jordan, Easton and Taylor, and two great grandchildren McKarsyn and Ayden.

I proudly served in the U. S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82^nd Airborne Division. I attended and graduated the Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course and was promoted to the rank of E-5 Sergeant. I received an Honorable Discharge in 1972.

Before going into Law Enforcement I worked at Chevron Chemical in Orange for 15 years, as both an Operator and then promoted to Supervisor.

I have been a member of the Orange Lions Club for over 18 years. I was named Lion of the Year in 2006 and again in 2015.

I received my Private Pilot’s license in 1997 from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Since being elected as your Sheriff we have accomplished a lot at the Sheriff’s Office. But at the same time we have had very difficult challenges that we have been faced with and I am very proud to say we handled them professionally, while keeping in mind our commitment to protecting and serving the citizens of Orange County.

I have the experience, knowledge and desire to carry out the duties of Sheriff. I sincerely care about the citizens of Orange County, the dedicated employees at the Sheriff’s Office and all Orange County employees that share the same desire to be a public servant. My management style has and will always be to deliver professionalism, courtesy, trust and integrity to the citizens of Orange County. You deserve and will receive the very best in Law Enforcement services. All of the employees at the Sheriff’s Office hope that over the past several years we have gained your trust in every aspect.

I thank you again for your support and friendship and I humbly ask for your vote to re-elect me as your Orange County Sheriff.

Keith Merritt is Sheriff of Orange County