CIBOLA COUNTY - “I want to spread my knowledge and experience to help the community, county-wide,” said Grants Police Department Sgt. Detective John Castaneda last week.

Castaneda has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming county sheriff race. The primary is in June, 2010, and the general election is in November of the same year. The current sheriff is Johnny Valdez. Valdez finishes his first term in 2010 after replacing now Magistrate Judge Manuel Lujan.

    “We all have different ideas,” Castaneda said. “I believe that I can implement solutions to the problems Cibola County has better than the current,” he added. “You're never going to get rid of crime but you can redirect it.”

    Castaneda said he offers the county many years of experience in law enforcement. He worked at the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility from 1994 to 1998. Castaneda started as a correctional officer and moved up to the recreation coordinator.

    From 1998 to 2002 he worked under then Sheriff Larry Diaz as a deputy. At the sheriff's department he added the name Crime Prevention Specialist to his resume.

    In 2002, for six short months, he worked at the Albuquerque International Airport as an Aviation Officer. “It was shortly after 9/11 so security was beefed up and the experience was great,” Castaneda said. “It was on a federal level - I worked with Homeland Security, ATF, DEA, etc.” Despite enjoying the experience, gas expense and travel became too much and Castaneda returned to employment in Grants. He was hired in patrol at the Grants Police Department where he has yet to look back.

“I love my job, I love working with the community,” the sheriff candidate said.

While at GPD, Castaneda has focused on the youth. He was an officer at the Grants schools for several years. Castaneda has also been involved in the Junior Officer Leadership and Training Academy, Kasey's Says Program, Kids I.D. and Teen Drug Court. “My big thing is the family,” he said. “It's all about the family. Security and safety and education.”

    Castaneda said his priorities are safe schools and homes, working with other agencies, 24-hour patrol, higher wages for certified deputies and pro-active community programs such as Neighborhood Watch. His motto for his campaign is 'A Positive Choice for Cibola County.'

    Castaneda was born and raised in Gallup. He graduated at Gallup High School in 1989. His wife of 17 years is Tracy. The couple has four girls; Shanise, Domonique, Amaya and Karliz.

Castaneda attended University of New Mexico in Gallup where he received a Criminal Justice certificate. He is also SWAT certified.

    “My goal is a safer community,” Castaneda said. “A place where our children can be raised in a safe environment.”

Editor's Note: Sheriff Johnny Valdez is expected to run for reelection and there are others expected to announce their candidacy for sheriff. Look in future issues of the Beacon for profiles of each candidate.