Two Officer Groups Endorsing O’Connell
Representatives of two Ventura County law enforcement groups have announced their support of Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) in his bid for the state Senate.
Representatives from the county’s Deputy Sheriffs Assn. and the Police Officers Assn. praised O’Connell for his tough stance on crime issues and his support of officers on the street.
“He’s always there for us,” said Harlan Rudd, director of the Deputy Sheriffs Assn. “And in today’s political world, he’s a stand-up guy. We need more people of his caliber.”
Rudd noted that O’Connell, who has received the support of nearly every major local law enforcement group, has written or supported legislation that has toughened penalties for drug dealers, juveniles caught carrying guns and repeat sex offenders.
“The primary goal of government is to protect the citizenry,” O’Connell said in a prepared statement.
O’Connell is running against Republican Steve MacElvaine, a former San Luis Obispo County supervisor, for an open seat in the 18th Senate District, which covers Ventura, Santa Paula, Ojai and Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
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