2026 Kentucky General Election

Jon is a lifelong resident of Jessamine County and is married to his high school sweetheart Mandy (Jenkins) Sallee. They live on a farm in Jessamine County with their four daughters and assortment of animals. Their family is active members of Jessamine Christian Church.

Jailer Jon Sallee

Jon R. Sallee is a lifelong resident of Jessamine County. He lives with his wife, Mandy (Jenkins) Sallee, and their four daughters, and they are active members of Jessamine Christian Church.

Jon began his career in public service in 1998 when he became a member of both the Jessamine County Fire District and the Wilmore Fire Department. He has continued as a member of the Jessamine County Fire District for the past 25 years, where he currently holds the rank of Captain and is the firemen elected member of the District's Board of Trustees. In December of 2002 Jon then fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a law enforcement officer when joined the Nicholasville Police Department.

In December of 2002 Jon then fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a law enforcement officer when joined the Nicholasville Police Department. Since that time, he has served in law enforcement in different capacities including the Jessamine County Sheriff's Office, The Bluegrass Airport Fire & Police Department and for the past thirteen years as the Jessamine County Jailer.

Jon currently serves as a captain with the Jessamine County Fire District. He previously worked in law enforcement with the Nicholasville Police Department, Jessamine County Sheriff's Office, and Bluegrass Airport Fire & Police Department.

Since being elected Jailer in 2010 Jon has kept his campaign promises to lower the Detention Center Budget through innovative management practices. He has improved upon the county roadside litter program and has started a jail garden which grows produce to offset the cost of feeding individuals who are incarcerated.

The primary election votes have been counted and the results are in for Jessamine County.

Jon R. Sallee was reelected as Jessamine County jailer with a total vote count of 3,041 in his race against Michael David, who received a final vote count of 619.

Michael Hughes was reelected as Jessamine County coroner, with a final vote count of 1,816.

Election results are in

Jessamine County Jailer

Jon R. Sallee (R) – 12,960 – 100 %

Jessamine County Coroner

The votes are in

Margaret Lowery
1993 - 1994	Frank Hubbard
1994 - 2007


	

Cecil Moss
2007 - 2011	Jon Sallee
2011 - Present

History

Jon currently serves as the Jessamine County jailer. He was first elected in 2010 and was reelected in 2018 and 2022.

Election results are in | Jessamine Journal

Shortly after taking office Jon Sallee recognized that a large portion of the Detention Center's budget was the cost of feeding individuals incarcerated. He wanted first and foremost lower the burden of cost on the taxpayer but also provide a healthy alternative to feed those incarcerated.

Garden Project

Before Jon's tenure began one full time deputy would take inmates out to pick up twice a week on the Deputy's day off. Operating the program in this manner was costly because with the Deputy working on their day off they had to be paid overtime rates. The program also was not as effective as it could be because the Deputy only had two days to commit to the program.

Soon after taking office Jon began employing part time Deputies to handle the program. By using part time Deputies for the litter program, the county is not responsible for providing the employee benefits. The Deputies assigned to this program only responsibility is the roadside litter program so this allows for inmates to be on Jessamine County Roads seven days a week preserving Jessamine County's beauty.

Roadside Litter Program

Wanted to lower taxpayer-funded meal costs while providing healthier food for incarcerated people.

Began employing part-time deputies to pick up roadside litter to avoid employee-benefit costs.

- Wanted to lower taxpayer-funded meal costs while providing healthier food for incarcerated people.
- Began employing part-time deputies to pick up roadside litter to avoid employee-benefit costs.

Budget

The Jail Garden is an innovative way to not only offset the cost of meals but it also provides the inmates with an opportunity to learn how to grow a garden and receive the benefit of fresh produce. Every year inmates plant and manage approximately 5 acres of garden. The Detention Center harvests the vegetables and sells the produce to the Detention Center's food management company. Every year the Detention Center makes approximately $4,000 to $5,000 from the sale of the produce. The fresh produce is then used by the food management company to feed those incarcerated. The program has proven to be successful, lowering the cost incurred and providing a learning experience for the inmates and fresh produce for their meals.

The incident, Sallee said on social media, occurred at a Valero in Nicholasville on Tuesday night. Sallee said that an internal investigated was immediately started and "appropriate disciplinary action has been taken as a result of the investigation."

Investigation ensues after reported Jessamine Co. deputy involved incident

The Jessamine County Detention Center is committed to provide those incarcerated the ability to openly practice their religion. Every week the Detention Center Chaplin, Larry Goldey plans and organizes worship services within the Detention Center. For those who have not yet embraced religion, they are encouraged to attend church services so that they can learn the word of God. Jon Sallee feels that religion plays an important role in the rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated. By learning the lessons that are taught in the bible he feels that it is the most important step in rehabilitation, so that the offender can be a productive member of society. If an inmate so chooses to commit their life to Christ, Jon Sallee has a formed a partnership with Jessamine Christian Church to provide baptism services.

Baptisms

Jon Sallee feels that religion plays an important role in the rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated. By learning the lessons that are taught in the bible he feels that it is the most important step in rehabilitation, so that the offender can be a productive member of society. If an inmate so chooses to commit their life to Christ, Jon Sallee has a formed a partnership with Jessamine Christian Church to provide baptism services. Since beginning the program there have been 252 inmates baptized at Jessamine Christian Church.

Supports a jail garden to offset meal costs while giving incarcerated people gardening experience and fresh produce.

Said he immediately began an internal investigation and imposed “appropriate disciplinary action” following a reported incident involving a deputy.

Said Bible lessons are “the most important step in rehabilitation” for incarcerated people.

Formed a partnership with Jessamine Christian Church to provide baptism services for incarcerated people who choose to commit their lives to Christ.

- Supports a jail garden to offset meal costs while giving incarcerated people gardening experience and fresh produce.
- Said he immediately began an internal investigation and imposed “appropriate disciplinary action” following a reported incident involving a deputy.
- Said Bible lessons are “the most important step in rehabilitation” for incarcerated people.
- Formed a partnership with Jessamine Christian Church to provide baptism services for incarcerated people who choose to commit their lives to Christ.

Jail Management

Every year Jon Sallee administers grant funding from the State of Kentucky for roadside litter pickup. The grant funding assists with paying the salaries of the Deputies that take inmates throughout the county to pick up litter. After taking office in 2011 one of Jon's goals was to improve upon the program and preserve Jessamine County's beauty.

Administers state grant funding that helps pay deputies who take incarcerated people to pick up roadside litter.

- Administers state grant funding that helps pay deputies who take incarcerated people to pick up roadside litter.

Administration

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Jon R. SALLEE

Jon R. Sallee

- Said Bible lessons are “the most important step in rehabilitation” for incarcerated people.
- Formed a partnership with Jessamine Christian Church to provide baptism services for incarcerated people who choose to commit their lives to Christ.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

- The jailer is responsible for the county jail and all of the people in it, including managing deputies and other staff. They are responsible for keeping the jail up to health and safety standards and must provide necessary health care to those who cannot pay.
- The jailer is also the jail's record keeper and responsible for bail bonds. They 
- In some counties, the jailer acts as a bailiff in the court system or maintains and operates county buildings.manage prisoners’ work or educational release and community service.
- This position has a maximum annual salary based on the county and jail operation size. The current maximum values range from about $85,000 to $154,400. 

Jessamine Jailer

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