Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery recently announced he will seek election to serve his first full term in the position, going up against challenger District 2 Baldwin County Commissioner Matt McKenzie.

Lowery was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey in 2024 to the seat after Huey "Hoss" Mack retired after nearly 20 years to become the executive director of the Alabama Sheriff's Association. Lowery came into the position with nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, including nearly two decades with the Baldwin agency that started as civil affairs commander in 2007 before moving up to become chief deputy from 2018 until his appointment to sheriff.

Prior to joining the sheriff's office, Lowery spent a decade with the Baldwin County District Attorney's Office rising from investigator to chief investigator.

"During his tenure as chief deputy and sheriff of Baldwin County, Lowery has worked to keep surrounding criminal areas from expanding here. This includes the implementation of a multi-agency partnership to place safety officers in our schools. This first-of-its-kind program in Alabama saw more than 100 officers trained and deployed in schools across Baldwin County, protecting our children like never before. This unique program also provided intelligence operations on growing juvenile crime in our area, thwarting drug and gang expansion," a statement from Lowery's campaign team said.

Lowery said his focus has been on expanding the force and facilities across the county. During his leadership tenure, the sheriff's office has added approximately 44 new law enforcement officers and 58 corrections officers, expanding the force by 40%. In January, the sheriff's office is set to complete construction on a new jail facility, which will enhance both capacity and security.

"I'm proud of what we've accomplished, but I'm even more motivated by what lies ahead," Lowery said. "Baldwin County is growing, and with that growth comes greater challenges. I've been encouraged by the support from federal authorities in removing illegal residents, but I remain concerned about rising crime pressures from neighboring areas. That's why I'm committed to growing our force and, with it, strengthening public safety. The hard work and dedication from our outstanding deputies is what will continue to protect Baldwin County. By investing in our people and our assets, we're not just protecting lives — we're safeguarding the peace, homes and way of life our citizens value. 'To Protect and Serve' isn't just a slogan — it's a promise I make every time I put on the badge."

Lowery is a graduate of Auburn University, the FBI National Academy and the FBI's Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and also served as president of the Alabama chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates.

Lowery also serves as vice chairman of the Baldwin County 911 Board and is a charter member of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office Foundation. He is also a charter member and past president of the Central Baldwin Sunset Rotary Club, where he has received a Paul Harris Fellow award.

Lowery and his wife, Tonja, have been married for 28 years and are parents to two adult children, Avery and Camryn. They are longtime small business owners, having operated their family pharmacy in Elberta for over 20 years.

He will face at least one challenger in Matt McKenzie, who was elected to the county commission for District 2 in 2022.

"I want to bring a fresh start to the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office. I want to bring excitement and energy to the younger men and women just starting out in the law enforcement journey. I want to provide additional career enhancement avenues for our veteran officers. I want to focus on pay raises for the deputies. More importantly, I want to focus on making current job functions easier and streamlining the administration processes to make their job better. They have a tough enough job, and it will be my job to listen to their needs to make it better," McKenzie said in a statement posted on his campaign social media page.

McKenzie is a Marine Corps veteran and retired from a 25-year law enforcement career where he spent 24 of those years with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. He was promoted to post commander of the Driver License Office in Mobile, where he oversaw offices in Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Washington, Clarke, Choctaw, Monroe, Butler and Conecuh counties.

"As a state trooper, I was a part of the first Alabama 287 G Immigration Program class. This was a United States immigration deportation program where the State of Alabama and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) worked together to remove criminal illegal aliens from Alabama. I believe that my years of work with ICE will help meet the immigration demands of President Trump and the wishes of the next Governor of Alabama," he said.

He said if elected he intends to bring in a "recently retired, high-ranking Baldwin County Sheriff's deputy" to join the leadership team to ensure the sheriff's office does not "miss a beat in daily law enforcement services."

"As sheriff, my focus will be building trust, strengthening partnerships and ensuring every citizen feels protected and heard. I am excited to get to work on my campaign and to share my vision for the future with the voters," he said.

McKenzie is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #43 in Fairhope and is an executive member of the Baldwin County Republican Party.

He and his wife, Christie, an educator in the public school district, have been married for 26 years and have two daughters, Kaleigh and Emaleigh. They live in the Barnwell community where McKenzie grew up.

County sheriff positions are up for election in 2026, not as part of this fall's one-year-delayed municipal elections.