Fresno County sheriff's candidate Cal Minor has picked up a huge endorsement in his runoff campaign against Assistant Sheriff Margaret Mims. He just got the backing of the Service Employees International Union Local 535. It's the largest union in the county and includes about 600 sheriff's employees. Here's Kerri Ginis' story in today's Bee.
But this is a big change from the primary when Tom Abshere, the union's representative, castigated The Bee for endorsing Minor. In May, Abshere fired off a letter to the editor that ripped into Minor and the newspaper editorial we wrote backing him. Here are the first two paragraphs of Abshere's May 19 letter:
"The Bee thinks Cal Minor can clean up the Sheriff's Department. The Bee knows that Minor's supporters include the people the attorney general mentioned in his report as being part of the problem. How can Mr. Minor clean up the mess if he surrounds himself with those causing the mess?
"Mr. Minor has no experience in running the jail, which is more than 50% of the Sheriff's Department. He has no experience as a homicide or narcotics detective, yet he is going to solve our drug problems. He wants to remove deputies from our kids' schools. Will that action make our kids safer?"
Now Abshere's union thinks Minor is the best candidate. Here's Abshere's quote today: "We thought he was the best one, out of the two candidates that were left, that could change the image of the department and move the department forward."
Very curious indeed.
They know that Mims can't win. They've chosen to go with the winner -- rather than draw the ire of the next Sheriff. Smart politics.
Well, isn't that an interesting comment. "They've chosen to go with the winner -- rather than draw the ire of the next Sheriff. Smart politics."
So, Mr. Der Manouel Jr. is now acknowledging Minor holds grudges and the union bosses have much influence to gain by supporting him. I know the voters and the Board of Supervisors will be interested in that.
I think it's rather telling the SEIU and the FDSA are both supporting Minor. It's my understanding SEIU wouldn't reveal their final vote and the FDSA only polled 1/3 of their members to give Minor their endorsement.
The unions are afraid of what Mims will do to clean house and rid the department of the back door politicking once and for all. That's why they won't support her. They have no influence over her.
Since she has never been in the "circle of trust" in the good ole' boy system that currently exists (unlike Minor's connections to Pierce, Burk, McDonald, Sawl, Maier etc....), they have a serious vested interest in keeping Mims out of the Sheriff's office.
Mims is a 20+ year veteran employee of the department. She is fully aware of who the "insiders" are and doesn't need a primer to learn the connections between people. She also won't rely on her "supporters" to "educate" her about the changes that need to be made or the people who should be rewarded for their "support".
I'm really looking forward to the primary. I think it will be glaringly obvious Minor's "plans" are merely repeats of earlier statements ("I've had 33 years of law enforcement experience....") and lack the depth and specificity to give anyone confidence in his ability to lead the department into the future.
Andy,
I think you need to get over the fact that Cal Minor ended up with 37% of the county's vote compared to Margie Mims' 27%. Even if only 1/3 of the FDSA members voted to endorse Cal Minor, he still has the FDSA endorsement. My suggestion to everyone is let democracy take its course and let the voters of this county decide who their next sheriff will be.
As for you saying that the unions are afraid of what Mims will do to clean house. I know Mims personally and I won't cross the line and say anything negative about her. As an elected official, department head or executive staff members, your actions speak for themselves and I leave it at that.
You also accuse Cal Minor of being connected to Pirece and his so called cronies. As I recall from a previous candidates forum, Cal Minor was the only candidate to state that he would've ran against Sheriff Pierce. My advise to you is plain and simple. Get over it!
After reading your posting, you sound like a current sheriff's executive staff member who's going to lose their power base if Cal Minor gets elected.
FYVM
I see Andy thinks the unions backed Cal because he is part of the good old boy system and that they didn't back Mims because she is not in the circle of trust and can't be influenced by these people. I am certain that if Mims was elected the current admin that has created many of these problems and/or stood by and did nothing to solve them would continue on the same path. Why? It's simple Mims is buddies with most of the current command and executive staff, she's not going to rock the boat and change anything. She is friends with these people and is relying on their support. If Mims is elected she will be a puppet for the Asst Sheriffs and Captains who currently occupy the second floor. Whatever they say or want to do she will do. So Andy I ask you who is really part of the good old boy(girl) network? Answer: Margaret Mims. This whole thing about Cal being associated with the people investigated by the attorney general is comical because none of them have attended fundraisers, donated money, or actively campaigned for him. Yes Cal has asked people in the department what is going within the department. It's a good thing he did because now he knows what is really going with the department. The Asst Sheriffs and Captains don't even know what is going on half the time and if they know what is going on they don't tell the voting public. The bottom line is if you want to see a shake up at the department, hold Asst Sheriff's and Captains accountable, and have an increased level of public safety service vote Cal Minor for Sheriff.
I read the article in the Fresno Bee the other day regarding Mims campaign platform. Once again I see someone who has no clue about what is going on at the department or is just trying to make a politically correct statement to the voters who she feels don't know the truth. Who knows maybe it's both. The statement she made about creating a valleywide multiagency taskforce to address the making and sale of methamphetamine was RIDICULOUS. Asst Sheriff Mims wake up, we already have that and its called HIDTA. The HIDTA Taskforce is composed of deputies, Fresno Police Officers, DOJ-BNE, DEA, and ATF. Their job is to do exactly that from Merced to Bakersfield. The taskforce is headed by a DOJ Agent. I don't know if Mims is trying to pull a fast one the voters or maybe she really doesn't knwo what goes on inside the department where she is an Assistant Sheriff. You can say Cal had to ask people inside the department to find out what is going on, but at least he knows what is really going on. Mims has no clue and her statement about reducing overtime in the jail is a JOKE. The overtime was simply picked up by higher paid patrol deputies and it caused severe shortages in patrol staffing. Good job Margaret, keep it up!!! I am sick and tired of those who keep saying Mims has 20 years of this and she knows the department. She really knows very little about leadership, law enforcement, and how to improve morale. She would be a much better fit to head the department of social services and she can take Chris Curtice to be her number #1 assistant. Cal Minor is the only choice for Sheriff of Fresno County.
Follow The Money:
There is an old adage of "follow the money". So I followed the money and was shocked to learn candidate Calvin Minor has taken over $60,000 in union money for his campaign for Sheriff. Many of those unions are the same ones backing Jerry Brown for Attorney General.
I checked, his opponent, Assistant Sheriff Margaret Mims, has only accepted $500 in union money.
I believe Margaret Mims will not be beholden to special
interests. That is an important quality for our sheriff.
I'm supporting Margaret Mims for Sheriff, and I encourage all Fresno County voters to do the same.