Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones fired deputy sheriff Cam Hunt on Tuesday over Hunt announcing a run for sheriff in 2026.

Jones fired Hunt, a Marine veteran, this week after Hunt notified Jones he would be challenging Jones in 2026, according to a termination letter obtained by the East Alabama Examiner .

Hunt said in a statement on Facebook on Friday, “Let me be clear: no one should ever be threatened or silenced for exercising their rights as private citizens. Off-duty political beliefs are protected by the Constitution.”

“Leadership means respecting the people who serve beside you, not trying to control their voices. Public service should never come with political strings attached. Every deputy, and every citizen of Lee County, deserves the freedom to think, speak, and vote without i

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