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07/12/2010: "Undersheriff, Sergeant & Deputies Speak On Sheriff Primary Race"

(UPDATED 7-13-10) A joint press release from Undersheriff Zerby, Sgt Brennan, & Deputy Gardiner was issued Monday (&-12-10) in opposition to the Jeff Asher candidacy for Sheriff. Deputy Asher's response follows the joint press release by the deputies

(Joint Press Release) - The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is at a crossroad. Sheriff Bill Cumming has decided to retire after serving as Sheriff for 24 years. The county and the Sheriff's Office are already facing very tough budget decisions. The new Sheriff must be ready to lead the Sheriff's Department into the future while dealing with these new budget constraints.

This must be done while maintaining the level of service the community has come to expect and without effecting the safety of the employees who work for the Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff is not just the manager and leader for the Sheriff's Office, he is a leader for the community and sets the tone for the law enforcement in San Juan County.

We are asking you to look closely at the candidates for the Sheriff position. Listen to what they are saying and what their plans for the Sheriff's Office are for the future. Speak to them personally and ask them questions. The next Sheriff will have a significant influence on the future of the Sheriff's Office and the way it serves the community now that the steady leadership of Sheriff Cumming is ending.

With this future in mind, we feel that candidate Jeff Asher, while doing his job well as a Deputy, does not have the leadership abilities or management skills to move the Sheriff's Office forward for our community. We have worked along side Deputy Asher for many years, some of us his entire career and based on this experience we have not seen the qualities we are looking for in our next Sheriff. Please keep this in mind as you consider the candidates for the next Sheriff.

(Signed by the following -Ed)

Undersheriff Jon Zerby (42 years law enforcement)
Sgt. Scott Brennan (22 years law enforcement)
Deputy Scott Johansen (26 years law enforcement)
Deputy Eric Gardiner (14 years law enforcement)


(The following is a response from Deputy Jeff Asher -Editor)

July 12, 2010

To the Citizens of San Juan County:

Recently, in response to my candidacy for Sheriff of San Juan County, several deputies have written and published a letter of “no confidence” in me as a potential leader for law enforcement in our community.

Of course, this is disappointing to me personally, but not unexpected. Since I ran against Sheriff Cumming several years ago, it has been clear that I believe we can do better than we are currently doing. With the recently demonstrated inability of our department to deal effectively with a single teenage serial burglar, it is no longer enough to say that we can do better. We must do better.

Anyone who has worked as an agent for change knows that, no matter how well intended, the uncertainty of change is frightening to many people. It seems to me that it is fear of change and increased accountability that has motivated these deputies to take such a public stance against my candidacy.

I think that anyone who takes the time to read my proposals or talk with me will find that I understand the issues we face, and that the changes I will implement as sheriff are prudent, proven, fiscally sound steps that will significantly improve our public safety.

By examining my record as a manger and administrator, and by talking to those professionals who have actually worked under my leadership, you will find that I have the skills and aptitude to succeed.

Some of my supporters have suggested that I should organize those within the department who support my candidacy as a counter to the letter. I will not be doing that. All candidates for sheriff are currently working for the department and will continue to work here after the election. Whoever is elected sheriff will have to bring the entire department together as an effective team. To add to the polarization that these deputies have caused will simply make that job more difficult and distract from our real job -public safety.

I hope that each citizen will take the time to learn about my record, skills, proposals, and experience in order to judge my candidacy as an agent for positive change. I believe that those who do take that time will want to give me a vote of confidence when it matters: on Election Day.

Sincerely,

Jeff Asher