Sheriff Block: Remember Reiner

Here’s some practical postelection advice for Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block: Remember Ira Reiner.

Reiner was the incumbent Los Angeles County district attorney who gained just 26% of the vote in the June 1992 primary. He faced a bruising runoff against Gil Garcetti in November. It was clear to Reiner that a strong majority of voters wanted new leadership. Later, to spare the county a bitter and divisive campaign, he properly decided to drop out of the race.

Today, Sheriff Block is in a similar situation. Nearly two-thirds of the roughly 1 million county voters cast ballots Tuesday for Block’s opponents. Block’s 36% of the vote was just four percentage points above that of his November runoff opponent, Chief Lee Baca. And the first round of the Baca campaign was hardly that of a well-oiled machine; now it should improve. There’s plenty of room for that, based on Baca’s most peculiar musings Wednesday about his desire to “evaluate” his future.

Regardless, Block’s tenure has been marred by crises in management and ponderous reactions, especially in his current term. His support among voters has dropped steadily from 84% in 1986 to 67% and 54% in 1990 and 1994 respectively. The handwriting on the wall could not be clearer. It’s telling Sheriff Block to exit, gracefully.