Valenta seeking city marshal post

Ronnie Valenta is a candidate for Eunice city marshal in the Nov. 4 primary election.
He has resided in Eunice for more than 35 years. He is the father of three daughters -- Stephanie Wood of Needville, Texas, Dody Redmann of Covington and Amy Ortego of Eunice -- and the grandfather of six -- Hunter, Slade, Sutton, Hayes, Elly and William.
Valenta has extensive experience in law enforcement, as a retired Eunice Police Dept. lieutenant and as a detective with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
He has been a member of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Posse and served on the Louisiana Sheriff’s Violent Crimes and Narcotic Task Force and on the St. Landry Parish Narcotics Task Force.
As a U.S. Marshal, Valenta served on the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force and he was a Eunice police detective for 20 years, including being cited as Detective of the Year.
He has worked as a probation officer with the Eunice City Court and for the last nine years as a baliff for the 27th Judicial District Court, which covers St. Landry Parish.
Valenta started the first Eunice Crime Stoppers and was its supervisor at one time. He was also supervisor of the Eunice Police Narcotics and K-9 divisions.
He attended LSU Eunice Criminal Justice class and the Acadian Law Enforcement Training Academy.
Valenta served as elected secretary of the Eunice Jaycees and as an assistant coach in the Eunice girls’ softball league.