Sheriff candidate Tom Jones diagnosed with leukemia

Says he won't drop out of the race

WENATCHEE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tom Jones is undergoing chemotherapy at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

He was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia last Thursday, Jones explained. It is a cancer of the bone marrow and is rare, but spreads quickly.

He said his doctors told him the cure rate is more than 90 percent if caught early enough and they believe it found in enough time.

Jones has to undergo eight days of chemotherapy treatments and is partway through the treatments. He said he is hopeful he will return to work at the sheriff’s office in a few weeks with the cancer in remission.

Jones learned he had leukemia last week after visiting a physician a couple weeks earlier to have a blood clot tested.

Learning he has the illness was surprising.

“I don’t get sick,” he said. “I’m a pretty healthy guy.”

After speaking with his doctor and learning about the high success rate, he decided to remain in the race for election as Grant County sheriff.

“My doctors have strongly advised us withdrawing would be absolutely premature,” Jones explained. “If my body accepts the chemotherapy in the next four weeks, there is no reason I can’t return to a normal life with some follow-up finishing treatment. After much discussion and prayer with my wife Sherri, we have decided not to withdraw from the election and give God a chance to heal me so I can proceed with our life’s goals and ambitions. We continue to feel I am the best candidate to lead the sheriff’s office into the future.”

Jones is staying at the hospital with his family while he endures treatment.

“I think this is just a minor setback,” he said. “Sherri, my daughters and I ask for your fervent prayers in our behalf in this time of challenge. We believe our choice to run for Grant County sheriff was one made prayerfully so we are trusting our faith and the advice of our doctors the cancer will be in remission at the end of my four-week hospital treatment.”

Jones said he wants to get back to what he loves to do.

“When I made the decision to run, I had a vision for the future of law enforcement in Grant County and I continue to strongly believe I can lead the deputies into better responding to the needs of the community,” Jones stated.

He said he is thankful to the community for supporting him through his struggle.

“It’s been pretty overwhelming,” he said.

To learn about Jones’ progress, supporters can visit his Facebook page found under Tom Jones.