Baca Enters Campaign to Oust Block

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Chief Lee Baca, a 32-year department veteran who supervises six patrol stations, became the second candidate this week to announce that he is seeking to unseat incumbent Sherman Block in the June election.

Baca--who vied unsuccessfully for the job of Los Angeles police chief after the departure of Willie L. Williams last year--formally declared his candidacy for sheriff on the steps of the county’s Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles.

His announcement Thursday came a day after retired sheriff’s Chief Bill Baker said he was joining the race. Flanked by about 40 supporters, Baca sought to portray himself as a leader with a “vision for the future.”

After struggling for years with the decision over whether to take on Block, Baca was careful not to criticize his boss, whose administration has come under intense scrutiny recently for its management of the county’s problem-plagued jail system.

“The sheriff has great strengths,” Baca said, adding that Block understands “in a democracy there will be other candidates.”

“We have discussed this for the past five years,” Baca said. “I plan to run a high-road campaign.”

The 55-year-old Baca serves as the department’s chief of field operations--Region II. In that job, he is responsible for the management of the sheriff stations in West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, Lennox, Lynwood, Carson and Lomita. He also oversees the Safe Streets Bureau, a countywide gang intervention program.

Five years ago, Baca received the third-highest score in written and oral tests in the competition to replace then-Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, finishing behind Williams and Deputy Chief Bernard C. Parks. Baca was bumped from the list of contenders by rules stating that outside candidates must score higher than all LAPD contenders to become finalists.

Baca received a second chance for the LAPD job in July when he was selected as one of six semifinalists interviewed by the Police Commission for the chief’s position, which went to Parks.

Although Baca said he would have taken the LAPD job if it was offered to him, he said his heart was with the Sheriff’s Department.

“I can imagine no greater privilege than serving as sheriff, to lead this department that I love and have dedicated my professional life to,” Baca told the crowd Thursday.

If no one wins more than 50% of the vote in the June 2 primary, there will be a November runoff between the two top vote-getters.

Block, 73, who started hemodialysis last summer for kidney problems after treatment for lymphatic cancer, has been sheriff since 1982. If elected, he would be serving his fifth term.

In Block’s previous reelection bids, members of his management team stood solidly behind their boss. This election, however, promises to be different.

Two sheriff’s commanders--breaking with tradition--attended Baca’s news conference to publicly show their support for him.

“For 30 years I’ve supported the sheriff,” said Cmdr. Larry Waldie, who supervises the department’s complex of jails in north Los Angeles County. “This time, I feel a change has to occur.”

Cmdr. Bill Stonich, who is in charge of technical services, said: “I think a man in his mid-70s seeking a fifth four-year term, while facing serious health issues, cannot provide the kind of leadership that we need for the 21st century. I think Lee Baca not only can, but will.”