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My name is Brent D. Barnett, and I am announcing my candidacy for Sheriff of Jackson Parish. As a lifelong resident of this parish, I am running to provide dependable, principled, and experienced leadership that reflects the values of our community.
Jackson Parish has always been my home, and serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I grew up in Chatham, Louisiana and graduated from Weston High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Psychology from Louisiana Tech University. My desire to serve began early, and in 1991 I was grateful for the opportunity to join the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office and begin a career serving our community.
I have spent my entire law enforcement career serving the people of this parish. I began in patrol and advanced through investigative and administrative leadership roles, serving as Chief Investigator, Chief Deputy, and now your Sheriff. It has been a privilege to grow through these roles, and each step has strengthened my commitment to Jackson Parish and prepared me to lead our Sheriff’s Office with professionalism, accountability, and purpose.
Alongside my law enforcement career, I was honored to serve more than twenty-five years in the Louisiana Army National Guard. My service included two combat deployments and key leadership responsibilities during major federal and state emergencies. I achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major, where I was entrusted with the readiness, welfare, and performance of thousands of soldiers, as well as the oversight of hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment and resources. I am grateful for the lessons I learned during my time in the U.S. Army. That experience forged within me the principles of disciplined leadership, sound judgment, and clear communication, and I will bring those qualities to the people of this parish every day.
These same principles shaped my work as Jackson Parish’s Emergency Preparedness Director, where I coordinated planning and response for hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, hazardous materials incidents, and other emergencies. It was an honor to serve our parish in this capacity, working side by side with parish officials, fire districts, EMS, GOHSEP, and FEMA.
All these experiences strengthened my belief that military readiness, law enforcement service, and emergency management all work together to protect a community. I am grateful for the trust placed in me during those critical moments, and I remain committed to bringing that same preparedness and teamwork to the Sheriff’s Office today.
For the last several weeks, I have had the honor and responsibility of leading the Sheriff’s Office during a period of transition. During this time, I have worked to maintain stability, reinforce expectations, and ensure that our office remains reliable and consistent for the people of Jackson Parish. I am so very proud of the hard work and dedication of the men and women who serve our parish.
During this period, we have strengthened communication within the department and improved our daily operations. Increasing transparency has remained a priority because being open with you helps us serve more effectively and allows us to seek your assistance when it is needed. Transparency is also the foundation of the trust we build with our community.
A strong Sheriff’s Office begins with well-supported deputies. Clear expectations, practical policies, focused training, and direct communication keep us moving toward the same goals and improving service to the parish. I am working daily to support our deputies by providing the guidance and resources they need to do their jobs well.
Public trust is essential. Openness, accountability, and responsible stewardship show our citizens that we operate with integrity and in their best interest. Treating every person with fairness and respect strengthens our partnerships across Jackson Parish.
As Sheriff, my priority is to ensure that every community in Jackson Parish receives reliable, professional, and consistent law enforcement service. This means maintaining a steady patrol presence, supporting strong investigative work, and operating a safe and compliant jail. It also requires close coordination with fire districts, EMS, schools, and other agencies so our parish is prepared to respond when emergencies occur. These commitments form the heart of our mission: to protect and serve our parish with integrity, courage, and unity through lawful, professional service that builds trust, strengthens one another, and safeguards our community.
By the grace of God, I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, and a member of North Hodge First Assembly of God. I am blessed with a loving wife, Jhela, who has served as a nurse at Forest Haven for over twenty years, and sons—Camden, an engineering student at Louisiana Tech University, and Braxton, who is a student at Quitman High School—whose support strengthens my dedication to serving this parish. They are a constant reminder of the responsibility I carry and the importance of leading with integrity in service and courage in action.
As this campaign begins, I look forward to meeting with you, listening to your concerns, and discussing the future of our parish. Your trust means more to me than you know, and I will continue working every day to earn it. I am deeply grateful for the support so many of you have already shown, and I humbly ask each of you for your support as we move forward. With your prayers, your partnership, and your vote, we can strengthen the Sheriff’s Office and build a safer, more united Jackson Parish. Together, we can ensure that our parish remains a great place to live for each of us and for future generations.
On Election Day, I respectfully ask for your vote and for the opportunity to continue in service as your Sheriff.
One Parish. One Team. One Mission.
— Brent D. Barnett