Let the voters decide
Fitness for the office of sheriff has no relevance to how many political hacks can be rounded up for an endorsement vote.
The Editorial Board
Wed, 22 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT
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A movement within the Lucas County Democratic Party to endorse Toledo Councilman Gary Johnson for sheriff ought to be nipped in the bud rather than set for a vote of the party’s executive committee.
Democratic voters, not party functionaries, should decide their nominee for sheriff to replace two-term retiring Sheriff John Tharp.
Mr. Johnson and Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre are seeking the Democratic nomination, as are Ronald L. Collins II and Maurice Morris.
By law, all are qualified Democrats because the Lucas County Board of Elections said so when it certified them for the March 17 Democratic primary ballot.
Mr. Johnson is a flooring contractor who has served for the last 30 years or more on the reserve force of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department, not as a full-time deputy. Mr. Navarre, who did not seek the party’s endorsement, has been a police chief in Lucas County for 21 years — eight in Oregon and 13 in Toledo.
The political influence-seekers backing Mr. Johnson are hoping that the “endorsed” label will carry weight with Democratic voters.
In reality, the party’s endorsement has no bearing on the real qualifications necessary for the job of sheriff. The new sheriff will be challenged to rein in the department’s overtime spending and guide the decision on how and where to build a new jail. That will require someone with an independent mind and knowledge of the field. Fitness for the office of sheriff is in no way related to how many political hacks can be rounded up for an endorsement vote.
Let’s not unnecessarily politicize this office. Sheriff Tharp was not an experienced politician, though he was qualified enough to win election twice. He did a fine job because he was a professional law enforcement officer, not a politician. The voters know the candidates. Let them decide who deserves the Democratic nomination.