Sheriff Race May Become Divisive for Department

With Jim Roache claiming about a third of the votes cast in the Tuesday primary, he is headed for a one-on-one campaign against former front-runner Jack Drown for San Diego County sheriff in a race that some believe could turn divisive for deputies already working for the two men in the Sheriff’s Department.

The surprisingly good showing by Roache, a Lemon Grove sheriff’s captain, put a new spin on the race because many observers expected Drown, an assistant sheriff running with outgoing Sheriff John Duffy’s blessing, to at least win the most votes in the primary if not take it outright.

But, with all but 12,500 absentee ballots counted Wednesday, Roache had captured 32% of the vote and was trailed by Drown, who had about 28% of the vote.

Running third was Escondido Police Chief Vince Jimno, with about 17%. Completing the card were ex-San Diego Police Chief Ray Hoobler with 12%, and Carlsbad Police Officer Jim Messenger, 9%.

The Duffy-Drown alliance was the key issue of the primary, and Roache hopes to ride it into November.

“I’m going to run against the Duffy record,” Roache said. “I’m going to run against the Duffy philosophy. We are a public service agency and we should run the Sheriff’s Department like a public service agency. It’s clear to me the people want this organization cleaned up.”

His thoughts on Drown’s ties to Duffy dug deeper.

“If Duffy gets too publicly involved in this race, if he goes out and publicly campaigns for Jack Drown, it will just reinforce the conviction that Jack Drown is his clone and his alter-ego,” Roache said. “There’s no substantial difference between the two of them.”

For two years, the Sheriff’s Department has been besieged by criticism about jail deputies abusing inmates, and Duffy--as the man at the top--has been sharply attacked as arrogant and abrasive.

Drown, aware of the problem with Duffy’s endorsement, strove hard to declare his candidacy free of his boss’s direct influence.

“When I become the sheriff, I’m going to be the sheriff, and not John Duffy,” he said, echoing a comment he made throughout the primary campaign.

He said Roache spent the past two decades working under Duffy, just as he has, and that, just like himself, Roache is part of the Duffy leadership team in the department.

“He’s one of 17 captains,” Drown said. “He was promoted by Sheriff Duffy three or four times. He is part of management. He’s been part of management since he made captain. So for him to try to divorce himself from management is ludicrous.”

Drown also said Roache’s success in the primary is not an indication that a large number of voters are dissatisfied with Duffy or the Sheriff’s Department. Instead, he contended that Roache, who also serves as a San Diego school board trustee, has high name recognition, and that Roache began campaigning for sheriff several months before Drown jumped in.

But, at the same time, Drown raised three times the amount of money that Roache did, and Drown snared all of the major endorsements, including that of the Deputy Sheriffs Assn.

Many of the sheriff’s association members who have been working for Drown may now find themselves in a box, particularly if the primary election results mean Roache is likely to prevail in the general election.

“Certainly it puts us in an awkward situation, not knowing who the incoming elected official is going to be,” said Deputy Mike Cea, vice president of the association.

“This situation hits home because whoever is elected is going to be our new boss. It’s a touchy situation for us, with two supervisors running.”

But, he said, although some department members may be reluctant to become involved for fear of endorsing the wrong man, the 1,200-member union will hang tough with Drown and work all the harder for his election in November.

“We have our own feelings who we want for our new boss, even if the public perception may be different,” he said. “There is strength in our fervor. He’s got our 100% (support), and we’ll squeeze a little more, too.”

Jimno, who, like the other three losing candidates, is undecided if he will endorse Roache or Drown, agreed that rank-and-file deputies are in a box over whom to support.

“It’s going to be a real tough, real negative race,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of infighting in the department, and it’s going to split the department.”

Another possible interpretation of the primary results is that Duffy’s influence in San Diego County is diminishing. During the primary, Drown was attacked as a Duffy puppet by all four of the other contenders, and those four candidates collectively won about 72% of the vote.

Nikki Symington, Drown’s campaign consultant, conceded that Duffy’s endorsement might have hurt more than helped their campaign.

“Do I think Duffy’s support has eroded? Yes,” she said. “John was John and a certain kind of sheriff. But he’s leaving the office now, and leaving under some controversy. And I suspect that every day that goes by, as the lame-duck sheriff, his influence will continue to wane. He’s having less and less influence in a positive manner.”

She said she will present several options to Drown on how to make up the deficit in the months ahead. And she added that, although Drown has been insistent about not waging a negative campaign, she may present him such an option.

She also said that Drown will lay out “specific ideas about the major issues that are innovative, creative and new.”

Added Drown: “Jim Roache is going to keep hammering away on it (Drown’s support from Duffy), and I’m going to hammer away on the issues.”