Published: May 10, 2010
Updated: 12:14 p.m.
Anti-illegal immigration groups endorse Hunt for sheriff
BY CINDY CARCAMO


COMMENTS 81

A coalition of Southern Californian groups opposing illegal immigration announced their endorsement Monday of Orange County Sheriff's candidate Bill Hunt.

The SoCal Patriot Coalition issued a statement stating the group supports Hunt for Orange County Sheriff in the June 8 election.


A coalition of anti-illegal immigration groups endorse Bill Hunt for Orange County Sheriff.


The coalition is made up of 25 anti-illegal immigration groups, including the Huntington Beach-based California Coalition for Immigration Reform, San Diego Minutemen and Vista Tea Party Patriots.

"Hunt is the only candidate running that embodies all of the qualities that our thousands of members and most citizens want in their sheriff in this crucial border and drug smuggling region," wrote Barbara Coe, spokeswoman for the group who also heads California Coalition for Immigration Reform.

The statement also criticized Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

"Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is not what the people want, nor expect from their top law enforcement official in the county," the statement said.

Lupe Moreno, who heads Latino Americans for Immigration Reform, also strongly endorses Bill Hunt for Sheriff, the statement announced.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa, Ariz. also endorses Hunt.

Arpaio, a controversial figure who calls himself "America's Toughest Sheriff," is known for directing his deputies to stop people to ask for evidence of their immigration status. He is under federal investigation on suspicion of discrimination and for unconstitutional searches and seizures.

Arpaio, who has also gotten attention for his policies such as making inmates wear pink underwear, stumped for Hunt on several occasions in Orange County, where he was met with protests by immigrant rights activists.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/sheriff- ... -hunt.html