Gates’ Decision Final: He Won’t Run Again

Sheriff Brad Gates said Tuesday that he won’t be a candidate for reelection next year, despite the unexpected withdrawal last week of his chosen successor to the job he’s held for 23 years.

Much of the county’s law enforcement community has been roiling since Assistant Sheriff Douglas D. Storm decided, after six weeks of campaigning, that the politics of running “just isn’t for me.” He had received Gates’ blessing to replace him when the sheriff announced in October that he wouldn’t seek reelection next year.

Asked about mounting pressure that Gates rescind his decision to retire, the sheriff said the sentiments were appreciated but that he and his family had “made our decision about our future.”

Gates said he has been speaking with members of his department--management and rank-and-file--about who they could support for sheriff, as well as his campaign backers and city police chiefs. He said there is no formal process for choosing another candidate to replace Storm.

“I’ve been talking a great deal since Doug made his decision,” Gates said. “You can’t direct politics. It’s going to have to come in this particular case from the good judgment of a lot of people. It takes time for the process to responsibly take place. I would hope people would enjoy the holidays a bit and make their decision at the appropriate time.”

Jerry Pierson, consultant with the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, said a political action committee meeting already is scheduled for Tuesday. The association represents deputy sheriffs and district attorney investigators.

“We’re going to discuss what’s been going on,” Pierson said. “The normal PAC process is not to do anything [about endorsing candidates] until after the close of candidate filing. But we’re not sure that this is a normal time.”

The filing period for candidates for 1998 opens on Feb. 6 and ends March 6. Because there is no incumbent running for sheriff, the filing period for that race is extended to March 11. Due to a change in state law, passed at Gates’ urging, only sworn law enforcement officers are eligible to run for sheriff.

Among those considering the race is Costa Mesa Police Chief David L. Snowden. He said Tuesday that he’s still very interested, but reiterated that he would need backing from within the Sheriff’s Department and from the sheriff himself, who could help counterbalance a six-month fund-raising disadvantage compared to other candidates.

“My interest is continuing the fine tradition of the Sheriff’s Department and the teamwork that exists,” Snowden said. “I have a lot of ideas for the department. Hopefully, I’ll be making a decision in the next few weeks.”

Gates praised Snowden as a “visionary thinker” and a law enforcement leader but declined to say whether he might support Snowden.

He said he intends to throw his weight behind someone with his department’s backing to “make sure the people of Orange County have a qualified sheriff, not a political opportunist or people who have criticized our department and our employees.”

Gates announced last week that he wanted the county’s “professional police officers” to coalesce behind a single candidate to defeat Orange County Marshal Michael S. Carona, who is endorsed by the county’s legislative delegation.

Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters also has announced his candidacy. Walters angered Gates in October after making comments critical of the way the sheriff has run the department over the years.

Sources within the Sheriff’s Department said Gates’ clear preference is for someone in the department he’s called home since 1961 to come forward and run. But if that doesn’t happen, he’d be willing to support an outsider as long as that person was favored by his department.

“I’ve never advocated that I decide who the next sheriff should be,” Gates said. “The most important factor is the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”