Candidates for sheriff spar, tout credentials, immigration
Candidates for sheriff spar, tout credentials
Immigration laws' enforcement a topic
By Greg Moran
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. September 13, 2009
The four candidates for San Diego County sheriff squared off at a lively, one-hour debate yesterday that covered issues ranging from illegal immigration to administration of the huge department.
The debate was part of the East County Tea Party at the El Cajon Civic Center amphitheater, which drew together residents protesting government taxing and regulatory and health care issues, among others.
The candidates are running for the post held for years by Bill Kolender, who retired July 2 in midterm. The county Board of Supervisors named then-Undersheriff Bill Gore as sheriff, a move that was criticized by opponents who saw it as giving Gore an advantage in the June 2010 primary election.
The other candidates are former state Assemblyman and former Undersheriff Jay La Suer; former sheriff's Sgt. Bruce Ruff; and James Duffy, a former sheriff's lieutenant who resigned last month as Supervisor Ron Roberts' chief of staff to campaign full time.
Ruff, Duffy and La Suer all criticized Gore on a variety of issues while promoting their own qualifications.
Gore fended off most of the attacks and stressed his experience and years in law enforcement. He was an FBI agent for 32 years before he retired and joined the Sheriff's Department at Kolender's request.
Duffy, the son of former Sheriff John Duffy, told the approximately 200 people at the event that his 27 years in the Sheriff's Department prepared him for the top job.
La Suer also emphasized his long career with the department, along with his legislative experience, and said that he is the most qualified.
Ruff, who ran three times previously and in 2006 won 130,000 votes, called Gore the hand-picked candidate of the “downtown elite.â€