Ashley was born and raised in Paulding County. He earned both his bachelor's in Criminology and his master's in Sociology from the University of West Georgia. Henson, his wife, Jodie, and their two sons live just outside Dallas on their family farm. He and his family are members of the Dallas First United Methodist Church.

Ashley most recently served as a Corporal and Public Information Officer in the Paulding County Sheriff's Office. Previously, he worked as a jailer and an officer in the Uniform Patrol Division and the K-9 Division.

Ballotpedia

Ashley Henson's campaign for County Sheriff is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Plans to prioritize Paulding County's safety, focusing on protecting children in schools, enhancing School Resource Officer training, and collaborating with the school district to address school safety, drugs, and gang activity.

Promises to protect children in schools by enhancing school resource officer training and collaborating with the school district to address school safety, drugs, and gang activity.

Plans to enhance public safety by modernizing the Sheriff's Office with new technologies, improving efficiency, and ensuring deputies and citizens are equipped and informed through initiatives like mobile apps and body cameras.

Plans to modernize the Sheriff's Office through new technologies and initiatives like mobile apps and body cameras.

Plans to balance law enforcement with community engagement, proposing Town Halls, educational classes on safety, and continued involvement in local events to address public safety, crime prevention, and responsible gun ownership.

Plans to improve community engagement through town halls, educational classes on safety, and continued involvement in local events to address public safety, crime prevention, and responsible gun ownership.

Said, "Our State and Federal Governments offer a wide variety of grants and funding opportunities for public safety and law enforcement... As your Sheriff, I will ensure we are being efficient, transparent, and fiscally responsible."

Promises to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and fiscal responsibility in the Sheriff's office.

Plans to enhance local traffic enforcement in Paulding County, increase deputy patrols, and reduce accidents due to rising car numbers and speeding, promising better response times to calls if elected Sheriff.

Plans to improve local traffic enforcement by increasing deputy patrols and reducing speeding, accidents, and response times.

Supports comprehensive law enforcement training, community engagement in Paulding County, active shooter preparedness, and civilian firearm safety education.

Supports comprehensive law enforcement training, active shooter preparedness, and civilian firearm safety education.

Plans to enhance Paulding County Sheriff's Office by retaining staff, improving morale, and offering better wages and benefits, aiming to fill vacancies and foster a culture of long-term commitment among employees.

Plans to address the "lack of loyalty in the Sheriff's office" by improving morale, increasing staff support and retention, incentivizing education and training, filling currently vacant positions, and improving wages, healthcare and retirement benefits.

Said, "Living on the outskirts of Metro Atlanta, we have a responsibility to our citizens to ensure that crime stops at the county line. Paulding County must be a safe haven for its residents, not criminals, gang members, or illegal immigrants."

Said, "Paulding County must be a safe haven for its residents, not criminals, gang members, or illegal immigrants."

- Promises to protect children in schools by enhancing school resource officer training and collaborating with the school district to address school safety, drugs, and gang activity.
- Plans to modernize the Sheriff's Office through new technologies and initiatives like mobile apps and body cameras.
- Plans to improve community engagement through town halls, educational classes on safety, and continued involvement in local events to address public safety, crime prevention, and responsible gun ownership.
- Promises to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and fiscal responsibility in the Sheriff's office.
- Plans to improve local traffic enforcement by increasing deputy patrols and reducing speeding, accidents, and response times.
- Supports comprehensive law enforcement training, active shooter preparedness, and civilian firearm safety education.
- Plans to address the "lack of loyalty in the Sheriff's office" by improving morale, increasing staff support and retention, incentivizing education and training, filling currently vacant positions, and improving wages, healthcare and retirement benefits.
- Said, "Paulding County must be a safe haven for its residents, not criminals, gang members, or illegal immigrants."

Public Safety

As of March 19, 2024, Ashley Henson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

Plans to bolster Paulding County's public safety by enhancing specialized law enforcement units and creating a "Cold Case Squad" to revive stagnant investigations.

Plans to improve public safety by strengthening specialized law enforcement units and creating a "Cold Case Squad" to investigate unsolved, open, and active cases.

- Plans to improve public safety by strengthening specialized law enforcement units and creating a "Cold Case Squad" to investigate unsolved, open, and active cases.

Criminal Justice

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Ashley Henson

The Dallas New Era, Chad Hunton Announces Candidacy for Paulding County Sheriff

Chad is from Paulding County and graduated from Paulding County High School. He is married to his wife, Jennifer with whom they have five children and one grandchild. Chad volunteered with several organizations, including the Shepherd’s Rest Ministries, the Family Alliance of Paulding, the Paulding Recovery Community Organization Steering Committee, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Chad Hunton has served in the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, where he has worked as jailer, Lieutenant, Director of Training, and Chief Deputy. He assumed responsibilities with the Sheriff's Office, such as Sergeant in the Uniform Patrol Division, SWAT Commander and Captain leading the Warrants and Civil Division. Prior to his law enforcement career, he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.

Chad Hunton campaign for Paulding County Sheriff is his first entry into politics. 

The candidate's website says, "Paulding County's population has increased 14.96% since 2017 when Chad Hunton started serving as the Chief Deputy. In that same time, complaints to the Sheriff's Office have dropped 35.39%."

The candidate's website says, "Chad is dedicated to moving the Sheriff's Office forward with a vision centered on building deeper connections between deputies and the residents they serve... that safety and community well-being are intertwined, and that fostering trust and collaboration is essential for a harmonious, secure Paulding County."

Plans to prioritize developing stronger relationships between deputies and county residents, as he believes that will contribute to increased safety. 

Worked to allocate funds towards increasing staff pay and pension benefits, new technology to fight crime, and "lifesaving kits" to treat overdoses. 

Wants to broaden incentives for training and education aimed to retain and recruit outside talent to work at the Sheiff's Office through advanced training from outside services as he believes that will increase staff participation. 

- The candidate's website says, "Paulding County's population has increased 14.96% since 2017 when Chad Hunton started serving as the Chief Deputy. In that same time, complaints to the Sheriff's Office have dropped 35.39%."
- Plans to prioritize developing stronger relationships between deputies and county residents, as he believes that will contribute to increased safety. 
- Worked to allocate funds towards increasing staff pay and pension benefits, new technology to fight crime, and "lifesaving kits" to treat overdoses. 
- Wants to broaden incentives for training and education aimed to retain and recruit outside talent to work at the Sheiff's Office through advanced training from outside services as he believes that will increase staff participation. 

As of March 19, 2024, Chad Hunton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Wants to focus on technology and social media to help solve cases more efficiently by hiring a Criminal and Data Analyst for to help with operate technology as he believes this will allow for a focus on vehicular accidents and the causes and pinpointing criminal activity.

Wants to develop a case team through outside recruitment to work on open cases and partner with community organizations that target" critical issues plaguing our county such as opioid abuse, addiction recovery, family violence, and mental health." as a measure of reducing crime through "legitimacy". 

- Wants to focus on technology and social media to help solve cases more efficiently by hiring a Criminal and Data Analyst for to help with operate technology as he believes this will allow for a focus on vehicular accidents and the causes and pinpointing criminal activity.
- Wants to develop a case team through outside recruitment to work on open cases and partner with community organizations that target" critical issues plaguing our county such as opioid abuse, addiction recovery, family violence, and mental health." as a measure of reducing crime through "legitimacy". 

Chad Hunton

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.

Paulding County Sheriff, Republican Primary

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Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice