The Next Sheriff

There was a mass mailing from one of the candidates for sheriff in many mailboxes yesterday. That mailing included a proposed organizational chart touted as "streamlined". If you received it and have not yet thrown it into the garbage, get it and take a long look at it and you can see that it essentially describes more of the same kind of micro-management organization that has been the hallmark of Sheriff's Office operations. The mailing also included a description of the intelligence led policing model that appeared to be copied and edited from a criminal justice curriculum textbook.

There are two very important dynamics of this special election that seem to be getting overlooked:

1) This is an special election for an interim sheriff who will only fulfill the unexpired term as a result of the conviction of the incumbent. We are not electing the next full-term sheriff. The election of the next full-term sheriff happens in November. The filing period for that election opens just a few days after the conclusion of this special election and the winner is sworn in. Consider rationally how much real progress toward resolving the leadership and operational issues can an interim sheriff actually make in nine months while simultaneously campaigning for re-election to a full term? Probably, not too much.

2) The reality of what got the Sheriff's Office into the state that its currently in is two-fold: voter apathy and misinformation. These issues are very real. Voter apathy is clearly demonstrated by the turnout to vote in not just this special election, but the previous election and the one before that. Very little has been done to determine the actual reasons for the low turn-out and address those reasons effectively. The misinformation comes from about two decades of the leadership failing to assure that the best efforts and results of the Sheriff's Office are made public, and to immediately and transparently addressing the failures.

Every person residing or working here should express their appreciation to Johnny Mack Brown for stepping up to fill the breach while we waited the ridiculously long interval to get to this point. The interval is part of the problem, too. What voters seem to realize is the importance of getting past this effectively. The next full-term sheriff is who we need to look to for the real change and restoration. The person elected to step into the breach for the remaining nine months of this term should be able to focus on stability and preparation to hand over an organization ready to take the next steps.

The candidates are now debating and working toward March 10 and are demonstrating that they do not realize that a lot can happen in nine months. They both seem to believe that they have a mandate and their re-election in the next general election is secured. Remember that neither of them have been actively involved in law enforcement in quite some time. They have a lot of catching up to do, and catching up and campaigning don't seem to mix well. We don't have to settle for either one of these candidates. There will be a means for you to write in the name of a candidate who you believe can work on stability and preparation for transition. It's important to accept that you can not write in the name of someone who participated in the primaries, as state law does not permit them to try to be elected by other means. Don't waste your vote by not voting, and don't waste your vote by essentially trying to choose between "the devil you know, or the lesser of two evils." If you don't like either of these candidates, write someone in. Get togeter with your friends and neighbors an pick someone. Ask them if they will serve and if so, write them in. If nothing else, write in Johnny Mack Brown and let's let him finish the term, if he's willing! The political parties need to get more involved in the next general election to better vet candidates, to solicit the best qualified candidates and actually get involved in campaigning to support their candidate. What we're having to go through is ridiculous.