Meet Slate Simons: first of Houston County Sheriff candidates hopes for county impact

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Slate Simons was the first to announce his candidacy for election as Houston County Sheriff, and has been running a grassroots campaign ever since.

Simons is the owner of Reece Heating and Air. He recently shared with The Journal that he has entrusted his family to run the business while he campaigns and is now canvassing neighborhoods and making connections through printed media.

“I wake up in the morning, I go to the gym, then I go home, and then I prepare myself to walk neighborhoods all day long. I like to grassroots campaign. I mailed out 10,000 letters, before I started my walking part of my campaign,” Simons said.

Before starting his campaign and taking up his role at Reece Heating and Air, Simons had worked for over two decades at the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. He started his career at the Houston County Jail and rose through the ranks, serving in the patrol and traffic divisions. While on patrol, Simons became the first graduate of the Drug Recognition Expert program, which he said was the country’s highest level of DUI detection training.

After spending five years in traffic, Simons was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Division. During his tenure in this division, he was involved in several notable cases, including over $2 million seized in drug busts and a case that involved the Secret Service.

Simons admitted they wanted to keep him longer before he switched to the heating and air industry after 20 years at the sheriff’s office. Before fully committing to the private sector, he stayed on the reserve unit for a few years while he worked in the industry.

“I actually went to Sheriff Talton and told him that I was going to explore the heating and air industry, and he wouldn’t accept my paperwork. He said, ‘Well, look, I just want you to stick it out a little while longer.’ Now, my two-week notice turned into about four months,” Simons said.

Simons shared memories of his conversations with leadership when he worked as a patrol officer. In those conversations, he expressed his intention to run for the position of Sheriff in 2024.

The timing of his decision, which he considered divine, coincided with several discussions he had with community members, encouragement from his family, and fervent prayers. These factors inspired him to pursue his ambition of running for Sheriff. Now, he said his campaign is about engaging the community, which he said he does naturally.

“I’m a people person. I’ve been that way my whole life, whether it’s with the sheriff’s office or heating and air. It just takes walking up to somebody, shaking their hand, introducing yourself, and they appreciate that,” Simons said.

The campaign trail is heating up with three other candidates: Lt. Matt Moulton, District Attorney Will Kendall and Jimmy Dunn. He said he wishes each candidate the best and is confident the citizens of Houston County will make the best decision.

“I truly wish the best for everybody. What I hope to happen is the citizens of Houston County elect the best leader who is going to progress us into the future because we have got to focus on our citizens,” Simons said.

Simons added that citizen involvement and focusing on Houston County’s youth are critical issues for his campaign. If elected, he hopes to establish a Citizens Academy and give citizens a straightforward pathway to becoming volunteer law enforcement or deputies. He also wants to establish an explorer program where children and teens can learn more about potential careers in public safety.

“Can you imagine if our adolescents and teenagers could come to one area and spend time with the sheriff’s office, the police departments, the fire departments, EMS and paramedics and really spend time with us and see how we work investigations, or how traffic stops are performed, or see as to why we investigate crimes and the punishment that it correlates to can be? These kids may want to grow up to be law enforcement or firefighters or paramedics. We could change so many lives,” Simons said.

Simons also wants to establish a rehabilitation program inside the jail, funded by forfeitures from drug cases, so those who are struggling can find recovery.

“Why don’t we implement a narcotics and alcohol rehabilitation program in our jails and then have that coincide? We can meet with [Alcoholics Anonymous] and [Narcotics Anonymous] outside so when they get released, they can step right into a program, versus stepping into their old neighborhood if you will, and succumbing to the pressures they deal with every single day,” Simons said.

Finally, to help with staffing, Simons said he’s amassed a following of law enforcement officers who want to work for him. Once the department is rebuilt, he said he is ready for renovation and innovation, adding he has a strong foundation of leadership with his work at the sheriff’s office and Reece Heating and Air and plans to surround himself with elite leadership.

Simons said that while he would like to expand on some things, his overall vision is inspired by Sheriff Cullen Talton, and it would be a blessing and an honor to follow him in leadership.

“I don’t think there’s anybody else in the United States better to learn from than him,” Simons said.

He added that Sheriff Talton was the foundation of his training and gave him every opportunity to succeed, adding he has the utmost respect for him.

“I’m very blessed. And it’s all honestly because of everything that [Talton] has provided for me. If somebody gives you an opportunity, it’s yours for the taking, and he always did that,” Simons said.

Overall, Simons hopes that his leadership experience, business sense, and training from Sheriff Talton make him the right candidate for the sheriff role.

“I know how to effect change. I know how to meet bottom lines and target acquisitions. I have an incredible feedback from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the deputies, the citizens of Houston County. It’s been extremely overwhelming. If you consider the totality of circumstances on my resume, what I have to offer, I am certain that Houston County citizens will see that I am the best candidate for Houston County Sheriff and to follow in behind Sheriff Talton,” Simons said.

Simons is married to his wife, Cindy, and they have three sons and one daughter. He and his family attend The Grove Church, where Simons works security and as a high school youth leader.

More information on Simons and his campaign can be found at https://www.slateforsheriff.com/

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