ABQ Journal Local Column: “47 years of experience for Bernalillo County” by Philip A. Snedeker, Candidate For Bernalillo County Sherriff

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Philip A. Snedeker of Albuquerque is a candidate for Bernalillo County Sherriff in the Democratic Paty primary to be held on June 4  ,2026.  He faces incumbent Sherriff John Allen in the Democratic Party primary.  On Sunday, March 29, the Albuquerque Journal Published the following guest column by Philip A. Snedeker entitled “47 years of experience for Bernalillo County”

EDITOR’S DISCLAIMER: The News and Commentary blog www.petedinelli.com was not compensated for publication of this announcement. The announcement is published as a public service to Democratic Party voters.

JOURNAL HEADLINE “OPINION: 47 years of experience for Bernalillo County

My name is Philip A. Snedeker. I am a candidate for the office of Bernalillo County sheriff. I am  seeking the Democratic nomination for the office in the June primary election.

I grew up in Silver City. I attended local schools. I earned a bachelor’s degree in social science and a master’s of arts in educational administration from Western New Mexico University.

I would bring an extensive 47-year career in law enforcement and criminal justice to the sheriff’s office. I began my career as an officer with the Silver City Police Department while attending college. I subsequently served for 10 years as a New Mexico State Police officer in Santa Fe, Farmington and Tucumcari. I was later elected sheriff of Quay County, serving Tucumcari, San Jon and Logan. I additionally oversaw the operations of the county detention center.

I then served for 31 years as a peace officer, probation and parole officer, and administrator for the state’s Probation and Parole Division, including 18 years as the regional administrator of the District Court Services Office in Albuquerque.

As a lifelong, dedicated public servant with a strong commitment to serving the people of my community, I have demonstrated throughout my career a personal dedication to this community and its constituents. I have the experience and knowledge necessary to best represent the interests and concerns of our citizens. I will be focused on implementing comprehensive crime and violence-reduction measures.

I will support changes and modifications to pretrial detention statutes, ensuring violent, repeat, predatory criminals are held in custody. I will commit to research-based, focused-deterrence policing strategies for the well-being of our citizens. I will support and advocate for expansion and funding for programs dedicated to alcohol, substance abuse and mental health treatment. That also means addressing — humanely and responsibly — homelessness.

I will work cooperatively and collaboratively with all criminal justice agencies, courts, corrections and citizens.

I will provide for the safety of our schools, and will establish continuous, cooperative and sound efforts to ensure such outcomes.

My commitment to public safety and the citizens of Bernalillo County is unmatched, and I am professionally prepared to take on the responsibility as sheriff.

I am committed to improving the lives of our citizens, and moving the sheriff’s office to greatness. I am committed to extraordinary ideas and principles, and as such, we are going to see extraordinary results.

The link to the Albuquerque column with photo is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-47-years-of-experience-for-bernalillo-county/3009295

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About Pete Dinelli

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.