With all the momentum in the Fresno County sheriff's race seemingly going with Cal Minor, a retired California Highway Patrol captain, Margaret Mims, an assistant sheriff, got a big boost on Wednesday. Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and eight other mayors of cities in Fresno County endorsed Mims' bid for sheriff in the Nov. 7 election.
Here's Kerri Ginis' story in today's Bee.
This is what Autry said about Mims: "This is about the person who can best do the job and take care of the county," he said. "I know Margie Mims. I've seen what she has done and I know what she can do."
Minor responded to the endorsements this way: "I'd much rather have the support of law enforcement," said Minor, who has been endorsed by deputy sheriffs, correctional officers and Fresno police officers. "They're the people out there day in and out."
I might have voted for Mims - until that MAPA endorsement. And more puzzling, to me, is the endorsement of supposedly conservative Mayor Autry. Mims talks tough, but I'm wondering if she REALLY is willing to circumvent the existing law and local judges to keep prisoners locked up (personally, I wish she could find a way!).
Hey, I'm all in favor of Joe Arpaio's method of prisoner housing (Maricopa County, Arizona), but realistically, the laws of California must be changed, and with the newly Democrat Schwarzenegger probably continuing in office, with a Demo legislature, just what are the chances of that? Mims speaks of a "proposed initiative" to correct the situation - but the initiative process is a two year process. What is she going to do - if elected - in the mean time?
Mim's mouth is writing a lot of political checks that her gluteus maximas can't cash. It's all campaign rhetoric!
Back to MAPA: I find even Cal Minor's appearance before this organization a little disturbing, even though he did not get their endorsement. Is anybody bothered by the fact that they are being endorsed by an organization whose president emeritus, Ben Benavides has a well-known antipathy towards anyone in the law enforcement community?
Is anyone bothered by their featuring of pictures of "illegals" protesting on the front page of their local web site? Illegals and non-citizens and boycotts seem to be featured throughout the web site. (Surely this is indicative of a certain mind-set, dare I say, possibly, anti-law enforcement?).
Why do politicians feel compelled to pander to every group? Why can't they just say it like it is?
Let's start by saying, I can't wait for this election to be over.
I have worked with Mims before. She is a great lady and a person out side law enforcement. But as a leader? I'm sorry folks she does not have what it takes to get the job done.
She falls under the black "Pierce Umbrella." He was there and her boss when she was promoted to Sgt. He was there and her boss when she made Lt. He was there and her boss when she was made Capt. Then less then a year as a Capt. he promoted her to assistant sheriff. Can't tell me there wasn't some grooming go on there.
And now on to the jail! You can't tell me that if she was in charge of the jail for the last 2 years she did not know that it was going to reach it limits and something needed to be done ASAP. So why didn't something get done while she was there? Why is she now trying to "buck the system." If she is such a good leader why didn't she try and solve the problem when she knew it was going to come?
As for the endorsement. Ok she got 9 mayors, 34 correctional Sgt's and a group who is anti law enforcement. And this means what? I feel Minor has the endorsements that any person running for Sheriff in this county needs, 99% of the law enforcements associations, the ranchers and farmers of the valley.
Well I could go on all day with the whys and how comes. So go head fellow bloggers and hit me with your best shot!
TC & Dilligaf both hit the nail on the head. Mims just isn't a leader. Autry told a group of Republicans that confronted him about his Mims endorsement that he knew that she is going to lose this election, but he had to stand united with the other mayors from throughout the county. United? With some of the most liberal people in county politics?? Interesting choice Mr Mayor.
Mims now claims that she isn't responsible for the jail overcrowding crisis. It is obviously the Board of Supervisors responsibility for not throwing more money at the problem! Well, a good leader would take responsibility for their command. A good leader would explore and implement innovative solutions long before the problem becomes a crisis. A career bureaucrat will continue to just shuffle paper, ignore the problem, and then blame others when it becomes a crisis. Which category does it sound like Mims fits into?
Only a fool can realistically believe that Mims is going to stand up to a federal judge and refuse to obey an order of the court. In fact, don't we take an oath to enforce such orders and laws, not just the ones we like? Why, I believe we do! Mims is simply pandering to the public by claiming that she will refuse to release prisoners early, or create a tent city. Violating state and federal law is not in the best interest of the agency OR the county. When she was called to the carpet on that little matter, she changed her story. Now she INTENDS to introduce legislation to change long standing prisoner rights laws. Again, PANDERING! As a liberal Democrat herself, she knows the chances of that happening in this state are non-existent.
Cal Minor is a true leader. He has a published plan to get this agency back on track. The employees support him; law enforcement supports him; and the taxpaying voters support him. Game over.
Sour grapes. Minor is just jealous that the Republican mayor didn't support him. Margaret Mims is a leader. She has ran every aspect of the sheriff's department compared with Minor who has NO experience in this area. Why doesn't Minor explain his double dip retirement to his conservative Republican supporters? Mims has backing from Republicans and Democrats and she will be a great leader for the county.
Now Now susancl2, lets not forget all the endorsements that Minor has had and continues to receive during this campaign. Fresno Deputy Sheriff's Association, Deputy Sergeants Associations, the Correcional Officers Association; all from within the Sheriff's Dept. Wow what a statement that makes towards Mims. Your own people don't support you running for Sheriff. And to seal the deal Fresno Police Officers Association and Clovis Police Officer's Assocations both endorsed Minor. I mean lets open up our eyes here. I just finished reading Minor's Website. The list of endorsements is impressive.
Minor did not receive Autry's endorsement, because Minor is not a push over and easily influenced over issues as his opponent is. Minor tells it like it is. He is not going to sugar coat or give you a political answer to a questions. Minor will hold people accountable to what they think about certain issues. We all know that Autry wants to rule the entire county. Minor wont give him that satisfaction.
I think people need to listen to the upcoming debates to hear for themselves how answers are given to questions asked. Minor will answer them, Mims will dodge them or defer them to a governing board to make the call. That is how she will run the law enforcement of this County.
The endorsements speak for themselves. Law Enforcement want a leader, not a political figurehead.