After careful consideration, I have decided I should make known my choice in this primary election for Sheriff and not to take anything away from any of the other three candidates vying for the office, have determined Chuck Atkins should be elected in November.
This was not an easy decision as I feel all four meet the qualifications, but come November, only one will win the office, two first in the Primary Election facing us.
I was the first to post reviews of the candidates in a three part series based upon questions I presented to all four, here, here and here. The questions were compiled by me on issues I felt would be of importance. All candidates were forthright with their answers and on most issues, not that far apart.
This blog also posted the first to tape and post a full length video of the first debate held with all four candidates that was hosted by National Women’s Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation and UniteWomen.org.
Reviewing all of this material, from the questionnaires to the video I quickly saw the choice for me wasn’t going to be that easy. As I said, all have good résumé’s and the experience required for the office. But, as I said above, only one of the four can hold the office.
As stated in a previous post, I am going with Chuck Atkins as I feel he has the most current experience for the job having served in our Sheriff’s Department for 35 years, rising to the top levels within it.
John Graser also has a similar lengthy experience, but I feel his 17 years in retirement would require too much catching up at a time we need a Sheriff ready to hit the road running. Much has changed in that 17 years around the community and in law enforcement.
Chuck Atkins retired in 2012 and in my estimation, he is much more current.
Shane Gardner and Ed Owens are also very good candidates and both can cite strong Military backgrounds. While Chuck did not serve in the Military, that alone is not a requirement for Sheriff.
I looked at experience within law enforcement, primarily our own Clark County Sheriff’s Department and Chuck Atkins holds an edge there.
While others endorsements do not necessarily play much of a role in my decision, it cannot be helped but notice how many other law enforcement personnel are supporting Chuck. Who better actually knows each candidate than those that worked with them over the years?
The local paper endorsed both Shane Gardner and Chuck Atkins to make it through the August Primary.
The main difference I see in both men comes down to experience, Gardner being a Sergeant currently on patrol, but Atkins achieved the level of Sergeant, then Lieutenant, then Commander and finally, Assistant Chief before retiring to run for the position of Sheriff, an elected office.
Clearly Atkins rises above Gardner where actually Command Experience is concerned.
On the plus side for Gardner, he is bilingual, being fluent in Spanish. That can be very helpful in certain situations within the Hispanic Community where someone confronted by a Deputy doesn’t speak English. But would they really have the time to wait for the Sheriff, whose duties go well beyond every day patrol and may require him to be out of town or in meetings, to come out to translate?
Being bilingual is better suited on patrol for our community I feel, instead of in the office.
Still, I feel Gardner will make a good Sheriff in the future as he gains more experience on par with Atkins.
On a more personal perception, even though each Deputy is a professional, I also think there is a potential for at least a small level of ill created should Gardner, a Sergeant jump ahead of his superiors. Human nature what it is, I just feel those other Lieutenants and Commanders might end up feeling a bit slighted should he win.
And again, that is nothing but my own personal perception, not based on anything I have heard or seen.
As I said, this wasn’t an easy decision for me and I have been contemplating on just who I feel would be the best of the four.
But when I compared experience within our Sheriff’s Department and being up to date on our County, clearly Chuck Atkins holds an impressive edge over the rest.
We have four well qualified individuals vying for office this election, but I will be casting my vote for Chuck Atkins.
