June 2010

The Orange County Sheriff's Race - Associations

Posted By CotoBlogzz 05-16-2010

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Most prominent political truisms include 1) Donating to a given candidate is so easy, a caveman can do it. Direct contact with that candidate takes a lobbyist 2) What you do not say speaks louder than what you say 3) You are who endorses you. Take for instance President Obama's 20-some year association with Reverend Wright. Critics claimed that it was impossible for then candidate Obama to have associated with Reverend Wright for so long, without tacitly endorsing the controversial Reverends' views - they proved to be right. Not to mention candidate Obama's associations with Bill Ayeres, Van Joens, Rham Emanuel, etc. etc.

In this context, we decided to take a gander at what the candidates for Orange County Sheriff are not saying, and their respective endorsements. We contacted the three candidates to let them know we would be looking at their endorsements, largely based on each candidate’s websites and asked them to respond to the following questions

What is the status of your candidacy, including funding?
What is your position/message to OC in one or two sentences?
What do you still need to do to make sure your position/message resonates with OC voters?
On a scale of 1-100%, what are your chances?

Associations - from candidate's websites. Usual disclaimer applies "partial list"

	Sheriff S. Hutchnes	Bill Hunt	Craig Hunter

What the candidates say: issues - from website

Sheriff Hutchens - Does not mention any issues

Bill Hunt:

1. Concealed Carry - As your Sheriff, I will issue CCW's to any applicant who is a law abiding resident of the county, meets state mandated requirements and is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

2. Fiscal Responsibility - The Sheriff's department budget is $800 million. In these difficult times, Orange County told our appointed Sheriff to cut 3% of the budget. She waited 8 months to find a mere 3 cents on the dollar and her plan was to fire cops. As your Sheriff, I will streamline the bloated bureaucracy, cut wasteful spending and enhance service and performance for our citizens. I will reform our jails, reform drug treatment and medical services, feed inmates in their cells, stop senior leaders from spiking their pensions and eliminate take home cars for non-first responders.

3. Jail Reform - It is the responsibility of the Sheriff to maintain our jails. NO EARLY RELEASES

As your sheriff I will ensure we keep sentenced inmates in-custody for the duration of their sentence, PERIOD!

I WILL NOT CITE AND RELEASE INMATES

NO BEDS FOR FEDS

I will not lease our jail space to the Federal Government for pennies on the dollar while citing and releasing local criminals back into the community.

Craig Hunter

1. Concealed Carry - "I fully support the Second Amendment. When it is applied to Conceal Carry (CCW) permits, the courts have given local Sheriffs wide latitude in determining who should and shouldn’t receive a CCW permit. I disagree with our current Sheriff who has adopted an extremely restrictive policy on issuing CCW permits. Instead, I believe law abiding residents have a right to defend themselves. As Sheriff, I will enact policies which put law abiding citizens first, rather than allowing criminals to have an advantage." Read Craig Hunters letter in support of California Assembly Bill 357 (click here)

2. Fiscal Responsibility - "In our current budget difficulties, maintaining a strong focus on public safety is vital. It is the first duty of government to protect the citizens they serve. Reductions in spending by any law enforcement agency must be targeted to maintain core services such as patrol, investigation, and incarceration.

As Sheriff, I will work to eliminate waste and balance the budget. A priority must be in creating a prudent reserve to help the department weather difficult economic times. Raising taxes on hard working Californians is not an option. Our government agencies must learn to live within their means, and must find the political will to cut non-essential programs during these challenging economic times."

3. Three Strikes Law
"I strongly support the three strikes law. However, in many cases the three strikes law does not go far enough. Violent felons who prey on innocent citizens do not deserve multiple chances to commit heinous crimes. One strike is enough for these individuals."

4, Death Penalty "I fully support the death penalty. I also believe an endless appeals process has degraded the deterrent effect of capital punishment in California. Those who commit the ultimate crime and receive a fair trial should be executed within a reasonable and timely manner."

5. Gangs - "As the first gang supervisor in the city of Anaheim, I believe strongly we should enforce gang laws and prosecute gang members whenever possible. We should also work with schools and other community stakeholders to intervene and prevent gang membership. I am in favor of prosecuting gang members as adults."

6. Drugs - "Drug addiction is a clear path to criminal activity, and while prevention and treatment are essential to combating drug abuse, we must also have strong, coordinated law enforcement efforts to stop the flow of drugs into our schools and neighborhoods. I’ve seen first-hand the damage that drugs do to young people, and I am committed to fighting this problem."

7. Illegal Immigration "Like most people in Orange County, I’m concerned that our border has become a revolving door for illegal immigrants and potential terrorists. Here in Orange County, I will make sure illegal immigrants who commit a crime are prosecuted and serve their full sentences, rather than being deported and set free in their country of origin. I will also work with immigration officials whenever possible to identify illegal immigrants who are serving time in our jails."

8. Government Efficiency and Cooperation "Too often, government officials become territorial and refuse to integrate resources for the betterment of taxpayers. I believe all levels of government owe it to the taxpayers to work together and create the greatest efficiencies and working relationships possible. There can be no territorial fights when public safety and taxpayer dollars are at risk. As Sheriff, I will work to foster cooperation and ensure our operations interface seamlessly with other agencies for maximum efficiency and effectiveness."

9. Good Law Enforcement Supports a Strong Economy "Good policing can help grow a good economy. That’s because, we all have a stake in safe neighborhoods, clean streets, and a low crime rate. These things contribute to a healthy community and vibrant economy, which then draws more and better businesses.

Policing can also impact the community by working with business owners to ensure they have use permits and other support, which will allow them maximum opportunity to run a healthy, profitable and positive business. I believe law enforcement should work hand-in-hand with businesses in the community to help facilitate their needs and solve possible problems without being an impediment to good solutions."

What the candidates say: Response to our questions:

Sheriff Hutchens - Did not respond

Bill Hunt - Did not respond

Craig Hunter - "Craig Hunter is the best qualified and is well-positioned to fare well in the upcoming Election.

Recent polling has shown more than half of the voters in this race still undecided, and with Election Day likely to see voters coming from around 250,000 households, Craig Hunter stands strong with placement on approximately 1,700,000 pieces of slate mail that are scheduled to go out. And, as is shown time and again, in down-ballot, low-information elections – slate placement is often a critical element of success.

Craig Hunter has also gained traction throughout his campaign, as people have come to know Craig, and that he is not only the best qualified candidate to be Orange County’s Sheriff. Given his opponents, he is the only qualified candidate.

Sandra Hutchens has tried to fit a square peg in a round hole, bringing her Los Angeles style of policing to Orange County – resulting in low morale, and high amounts of wasteful spending. And now she is trying to hide from the fact that she hid her own personal financial difficulties from the Board of Supervisors during her appointment process.

And as for Bill Hunt – in sworn testimony, Bill Hunt described his past best, referring to him as a “pretend police chief.” And he’s exactly right. Because only a pretend police chief could find himself caught up in something like the Haidl scandal. A scandal that everyone who has looked at it: the Grand Jury, the District Attorney, and the Attorney General – has found Bill Hunt without clean hands.

So, as we stand, a little more than a month from the election – Craig Hunter is well situated to fare well come Election Day.

Conclusion:

Consistent with the aforementioned truisms, there are strong indicators that endorsements point to how an elected official may discharge his or her duties. Likewise the importance of what the candidate says or does not say