Chagrin Falls, Ohio: U.S. Senate candidate Matt Dolan this morning announced the endorsement of Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth. Stanforth also presently serves as President of the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“The choice presently facing Ohio voters is one that carries ramifications for every city in our state and communities across America. As a State Senator and a former prosecutor, Matt Dolan achieved a sterling public record and has never wavered in supporting Ohio law enforcement. Matt has provided Ohio’s sheriff and police departments with the funding and programs we need. He has protected our Second Amendment rights while also supporting commonsense laws that keep our police officers and sheriffs safe on the job. Ohio needs Matt Dolan in the U.S. Senate. He will work for us, lead with sound judgement and will never hesitate to put Ohio’s needs first,” said Sheriff Vernon Stanforth.
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth was sworn in as the 80th President of the National Sheriffs’ Association on May 8, 2021. The election of 1996 brought Vernon Stanforth into the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office after a 15-year career with the Washington Court House, Ohio, Police Department.
“During my time as a prosecutor and State Senator I have always put the safety and security of Ohioans first. That will also be my priority in the U.S. Senate. Sheriff Stanforth’s endorsement is an honor, not only due to his impressive record of service and national leadership, but also because he understands that good federal policy has an indispensable impact in achieving local results. In the U.S. Senate I will fight to secure our border, stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities, and crack down on drug dealers and traffickers. I will always have the back of our men and women in blue,” said Matt Dolan.
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth Biography
Sheriff Stanforth has been reelected seven times and began his 25th year as Sheriff in 2021. During his tenure with the city police, he served as a jailor, dispatcher, patrol officer, and jail administrator. As an active member of the Ohio Crime Prevention Association, Vernon was involved with the development and introduction of the DARE program into Ohio, ultimately teaching DARE within his own community for many years prior to being elected Sheriff.
As one of the advisors to the Scouts of America Law Enforcement Explorer program, he guided many high school age students as they began their quest towards a career in law enforcement. One of his former Explorers eventually followed his career path all the way to serving as Sheriff Stanforth’s chief deputy. Sheriff Stanforth graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy, the FBI National Academy (Session 205), the National Sheriffs’ Institute, the National Correctional Institute, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the command training held at Auburn University, Ft. McClellan, Alabama.
Sheriff Stanforth also completed course work at Morehead State University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Virginia. Currently, he serves on the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission as chair, the Ohio Jail Advisory Board as vice chair, and the Ohio Crime Victims Compensation Board.
Previously, the Sheriff has served as a member of the Ohio Supreme Court’s Court Futures Commission, the Ohio Homeland Security Advisory Council as chair for six years, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5 Advisory Council. Locally, Sheriff Stanforth served as President of the Washington Court House Jaycees and the Washington Court House Kiwanis, as well as the chair of the county life squad board. He is also a member in the Farm Bureau, the Ohio Townships Association, the Ohio Chiefs of Police Association, and the Ohio Crime Prevention Association.
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