Jon Hall has earned my vote for sheriff
Some people show you what a profession should look like. For me, that was Jon Hall. In 2017, while studying criminal justice at UMass Amherst and working at the Franklin County jail, I spent a semester-long practicum with him when he was a lieutenant on the UMass police force.
What stood out most was his professionalism. He treated everyone he encountered with the same steady respect, and he saw community input as the foundation of the work, not a box to check.
Years later, our paths crossed again in Northfield, where I teach and he now serves as police chief. I’ve seen the same qualities there: he is visible, approachable, and invested in the people he serves. He is also a parent and a neighbor who understands how a sheriff’s decisions ripple through families.
The Sheriff’s Office does far more than run the jail. Its programs help people return to their communities and stay there, which I know firsthand from working in its programs unit. That work demands a leader who pairs high professional standards with real respect for the people in his care. In my experience, that describes Jon Hall.
I encourage my neighbors to learn about every candidate and talk with them directly. You can learn more about Jon’s plans for sheriff at www.votejonhall.com. I think you’ll find what I found: a leader worth trusting. On Nov. 3, I’ll be voting for Jon Hall.
Joshua Freund
Turners Falls