Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith will remain in her post
after receiving more than 60 percent of the vote in the sheriff’s
race Tuesday, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar’s
Office.
Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith will remain in her post after receiving more than 60 percent of the vote in the sheriff’s race Tuesday, according to the Santa Clara County Registrar’s Office.
Smith, the incumbent, had 62.2 percent of the vote – enough to prevent a runoff in November. Richard Calderon, who previously headed the Gustine Police Department for 8.5 months, had 29.9 percent of the vote, and Santa Clara resident Martin Monica, who served as chief of police in the Fresno County city of Parlier for about eight months in 2002, remained in third place with 7.8 percent, according to the registrar. Smith had 112,654 votes, while Calderon had 54,354 votes and Monica had 14,119 votes.
Smith, 58, had opponents for the first time in this sheriff’s race, competing against the two former Central Valley police chiefs who both previously served with the San Jose Police Department. The race has generated fiery rhetoric among Smith’s opponents at times, as both Calderon and Monica have accused Smith of mishandling the investigation of a rape at DeAnza College in 2007. Calderon also has accused Smith of increasing the department’s liability costs, while Monica accused her of bribing correctional officers by saying that she would only give them sheriff’s department-issued identification cards if they would endorse her. Smith has disputed both of those claims.
Monica, 55, of Santa Clara, worked for the San Jose Police Department for 18 years. He has focused his campaign on community policing.
Calderon, 56, of San Jose, worked for the San Jose Police Department for 30 years, where he ultimately served as a captain. He seeks fiscal responsibility for the sheriff’s department and cooperation with other community groups and law enforcement agencies.
While both Monica and Calderon have been critical of Smith during their respective campaigns, they also had explaining to do of their own.
Monica, who was fired after serving for about eight months in Parlier, was accused of various misdeeds, including improper use of a cell phone, failing to show up to work on a regular basis and overspending. Monica said none of those charges were factual, and he said his dismissal actually came about because a Parlier police sergeant who was married to a Parlier City Council member, was accused of molestation, and Monica asked that the sheriff’s department handle the case rather than police.
Calderon also lasted only a short time in his respective police chief post, which he attributed to “professional conflicts” with that city’s mayor and city manager. Part of that conflict stemmed from differences over how the city could spend federal stimulus money, according to the Merced Sun-Star.
He pushed for further cooperation with Santa Clara County police departments during his campaign, and stressed the need to lower liability costs.
Meanwhile, Smith, who garnered statewide attention after becoming the first female sheriff in California in 1998, stood by her record. She particularly took pride in a collaborative training program she helped set up with regional community college districts.
Smith received a slew of high-profile endorsements, including support from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and various state and federal leaders. Locally, Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage, former supervisor Sig Sanchez and Gilroy City Council members Dion Bracco, Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman gave her their endorsements.
