The race to be the next Sheriff for Ventura County really is a question of character. The issues that seperate the two candidates are so small that without being an expert we are left with character evaluations. Candidate Geoff Dean was fired and then re-instated over what has been called a ethical issue by the current Sheriff. Dean admits he acted improperly in preparing to campaign but has refuted any insinuation that it should be a major issue.
Dennis Carpenter has argued that this episode is enough to be a major issue in the campaign. Trust is an important issue in law enforcement. If the only information I had was news articles on the subject I wouldn't feel good voting for anyone involved in the department leadership and would prefer a clean sweep of the place. Sometimes news stories leave us with so many unanswered questions we feel less knowledgeable after reading them.
But then I look over the impressive endorsement list over at Geoff Dean's website and it alleviates many of my concerns. If so many of the people that work closely with Geoff Dean trust him enough to put their names on his website then I feel more comfortable with the trust issue.
I wonder if the candidates trust each other enough to keep working for the department no matter who wins? That's an interesting question.
Dennis Carpenter's campaign sent me a fundraising letter to share with my readers:
Sorry for the delay in posting it. Good luck at your fundraiser.
That's pretty much how I feel. I'd like to see some real policy differences, but I'm not clear on specific points where they differ.
Wearing a cowboy hat is "old hat."
Take a look at the 2 letters in the Letters to the Editor in todays paper. Those say it best. That is what people need to look at when deciding who they think will be a good Sheriff. It says it right there!
Carpenter For Sheriff.... Dennis that is
Please, one of the letters was written by a good friend of Shirley Carpenter - she also wrote in to say that Audra Strickland was qualified to be a treasurer. She goes to the same church as the Carpenters. Stop with the whisper campaign. Geoff Dean has an exemplary record at the VCSD.
Carpenter is shallow and does not have a command of the issues facing law enforcement in the coming years. Just listen to him speak....he is giving just enough fluff to make you think he knows what he is talking about. And he does not have the market on integrity. DEAN is a man of strong character and integrity. The Sheriff, Undersheriff, three chief deputies and seven of nine commanders are all Carpenter has. How sad is that? Every rank and file deputy sheriff, police officer, probation officer, prosecutor and every police chief support DEAN! The internal cronies don't want to end up like DEAN and get fired for crossing the sheriff. Please listen to DEAN and you will see for yourself that he is a true leader who has a command of the issues and with the support that he has, he will hit the groud running and we will see postive change and forward movement of law enforcement.