When he walked into our meeting, I immediately felt that a special presence had entered the room. It was more than just the typical energy I sense; it was as though a force enveloped him and carried him more so than his legs. This force I sensed was strong, humble, but what stunned me, was its benevolence. Without any doubt, when I reached out to shake Santa Fe Sherriff Candidate Adan Mendoza’s hand, I immediately knew that I was sharing time with a warrior leader who really could lead any organization into an age of real and positive impact.

At first, we didn’t discuss anything remotely political. Our dialogue was simply about opioid abuse and treatment. Over the years, whenever I’ve discussed my treatment perspectives with anyone with a background in law enforcement, I’ve encountered a hard-edged attitude that confronted me with deep suspicion and mistrust. However, Adan listened and, without any hesitation, began writing copious amounts of notes and asking questions such that he could understand the points I made. It was obvious that Adan was meeting with me to learn and not try to solicit any support from me, which raised a question for me: Why would a candidate for political office want to learn rather than campaign? Anytime in the past when a political candidate sat down with me his or her sole purpose was to get me to offer something to the campaign. Never, EVER, had a candidate simply wanted to try and learn in order to gain a better understanding of an issue he or she faced.

But as our dialogue grew deeper, it became clear that my initial sensing of being in the presence of a warrior leader was accurate. Adan referred to the notes he took and began discussing partnering with, not only local law enforcement agencies, but also schools and governing bodies within Santa Fe County that also included Native agencies. He didn’t see substance abuse and treatment from solely a punitive perspective, rather, he clearly wanted to engage the root causes of substance abuse and believes that the Sheriff’s office can be an agent of positive change. The thing is, Adan isn’t a rhetorical politician. I wouldn’t even classify him as a politician on any level. After sharing time with Adan, I can only classify him as someone who has seen the dark side of human life and emerged from that dark side with a deep understanding about how he can bring light.

I fully believe that Adan will bring his understanding to the Sheriff’s office and he will enact a plan that will reduce the social issues and criminality associated with substance abuse. What’s more, I think that the greater Santa Fe County will be able to sleep better at night with Adan leading the Sheriff’s office. He will provide a blanket of security; I absolutely trust the means he will employ in providing that blanket.

We, as voters, are the rock that holds a mighty sword. We should only allow that sword to be pulled by someone worthy of carrying it. This person should be strong, yet know that he doesn’t have to have all the answers. The person who pulls the sword should be a warrior, but with the self-trust to know when it’s time to trust others. The sword should be carried by someone who knows how to yield it in times of both war and of peace. Adan Mendoza is the only person worthy of carrying the sword that is the Sheriff of Santa Fe County. While he has both the formal training and hard-earned experience to fulfill the role, his spirit will carry the Sheriff’s office into a mission of truly protecting and serving Santa Fe County.

Electing Adan is not really about politics; it’s about allowing a real and true warrior leader fulfill his communal and earthly purpose. It is rare that someone like Adan enters the political arena, we need to embrace his candidacy, not for his ends, but for our own. We, as voters, need to demonstrate our capacity for selecting the very best reflection of our capability. Adan Mendoza is the very best Santa Fe law enforcement has to offer and his candidacy is a call to all of us to show that we can choose leaders who are the absolute best in our community. We need to elect Adan Mendoza for Sheriff because he is the very best the law enforcement community has to offer. To be completely honest, not only am I voting for his for Sheriff, but I am writing him in for Governor! For more information, please visit Adan’s website: http://www.mendoza4sheriff.com/