In the upcoming election, no race has been more contentious in Monterey County than the one for Sheriff. Deputy Steve Bernal is running to replace his boss Sheriff Scott Miller. The race between these two men highlights the discord within the Sheriff’s Department. During the course of the campaign -- Miller has been dealt a no confidence vote from the union representing his deputies – and settled a federal lawsuit brought on by the union over allegedly campaigning in uniform. Miller’s campaign calls these the acts of disgruntled employees, including his opponent. This election boils down to the issues of competence, qualifications and a whole lot of money.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Bernal mingles with about two dozen supporters gathered at an estate once owned by television tycoon Merv Griffin in the hills of Carmel Valley. Like his surroundings Bernal’s campaign is well funded. He has a war chest of nearly 200 thousand dollars with donations primarily from relatives and agricultural interests. That is five times the amount raised by his opponent.
Bernal says, “If you are running against an incumbent it is going to take a lot of money to beat him… it takes a lot of money to do radio ads…to do mailers. People in the county don’t know me.”
But it is the people who do know him who are providing his strongest support – he has the endorsement of the Deputy Sheriffs Association union, the four living previous Sheriffs, and former Monterey County Sheriff Deputy Commander Mike Richards.
At the Carmel Valley fundraiser, Richards says it all comes down to poor management by Sheriff Scott Miller. Richards--who filed a wrongful termination suit after he was fired from the department in 2012--says deputies are afraid to speak out against the Sheriff for fear of retaliation..
Richard says, “There are deputies that are afraid to do their jobs because any complaint that comes in will be handled in a grossly overreaching disciplinary manner.”
Accusations of mis-management don’t stop there. Candidate Steve Bernal says deputies are getting burned out – particularly in the jail because of the amount of overtime they are required to work.
Last year, the Sheriff’s Office spent 5 and a half million dollars on overtime, a million more than when Sheriff Miller took office 4 years ago. Bernal says the tax payers’ money could have been better spent hiring more deputies.
Bernal says, “Deputies that are working for 16 hours at a time. They go home and get some rest and they come back and work another 16 hour shift. They are fatigued. They’re tired and an unsafe atmosphere in the jail not only for the deputies, but for the inmates.”
Sheriff Scott Miller says the increase in overtime did not push the department over budget, and was a response to staff cutbacks during the recession. He’s since hired more deputies, but training has delayed getting them on the street and in the jail.
And he dismisses Bernal’s allegations of poor management saying Bernal is not qualified to be Sheriff.
Miller says, ”My opponent is an entry level deputy. In Army terms, he would be a private; I would be the commanding general. He wants to go from private to commanding general overnight without any preparation what-so-ever.”
He points out that Bernal’s education does not go beyond attending community college. Miller on the other hand has a master’s degree in management and 18 years executive experience in law enforcement.
Experience that he says matters when managing the largest law enforcement agency between Santa Barbara and San Jose. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has a 92 million dollar budget and 400 employees.
Miller says, “With the size of our department and our budget, it is unrealistic to think that an untrained, unqualified deputy could run an operation that big.”
Miller says he’s concerned about being out fundraised by his opponent – and all the negative advertising that money can buy.
Miller says, “I think as people realize the distinct difference between our qualifications, I think we’ll end up being successful in November.”
At a recent news conference, Miller rolled out his long list of endorsements. They’re pretty much a who’s who of state and local politicians including State Senator Bill Monning, Governor Jerry Brown and Congressman Sam Far.
Miller also has supporters within the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office including Deputy Commander Garrett Sanders. He says much of the opposition to Miller comes from angry deputies who don’t like the changes Miller has made.
Sanders says, “if you have been anywhere and people are changing the rules and the way you do things…new systems…some people like to be comfortable. And that causes some problems.”
As for Deputy Bernal, he concedes he doesn’t have the management experience, but he is prepared to bring in an experienced management team.
Bernal says, “The Sheriff is the leader. The Sheriff provides a vision and the rest of the department delivers that vision.”
You can hear the candidates’ debate tonight at 5:15 at 201 Main Street in downtown Salinas.