Published: Sunday, July 1, 2007
Work release a hot topic in race
Rob Beidler, Tom Greene and John Lovick are co-stars in the summer blockbuster "The Race for Snohomish County Sheriff Round I."
In this unfolding electoral drama, only two will survive to face off in the sequel this fall.
Beidler is the street cop, a sheriff's lieutenant with a bit of swagger, a onetime SWAT leader now leading those who patrol the county's north realm.
He's got big fans among the men and women wearing the uniforms, piling up endorsements from the Deputy Sheriff's Association and police officer unions in Arlington, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe and Snohomish.
Greene is the executive, a low-key, law-and-order type who runs the sheriff's administrative services. He cut his teeth cuffing criminals in Los Angeles County and is now number three in this county's chain of command.
He's the choice of the sheriffs of King, Pierce, Skagit and seven other counties, several police chiefs and past leaders of the Snohomish County GOP.
Lovick is the politician, a Democrat in his fifth term in the state Legislature who also wore a badge 31 years in the State Patrol.
He's got Democrats, starting with the county party's endorsement, plus more campaign experience and greater name recognition. He's hoping the wave of voters that backed Democrats last year hasn't receded.
So far, the three are flexing their resumes with few dust-ups.
Issues are looming, one with a history of controversy.
It's work release, a program placing convicted criminals in jobs near the end of their sentences. Snohomish County has no such programs but Monday the state Department of Corrections may suggest it get one.
Folks won't like that news; Charles Rodman Campbell is why.
Campbell, a convicted rapist, killed two women and a child in 1982 while on work release in Everett. He was executed in 1994.
Memories of that crime have fueled opposition that's kept the county free of the program. The state last tried in 1998.
This time may be different. A new law requires "equitable distribution" statewide of these programs. The intent is for persons granted work release to serve it in the county where they were convicted.
Lovick voted for the law, saying it's about more than work release. It provides offenders education, drug treatment and job training to steer them away from crime.
"I did not know all the details" on work release, he said. "It is something I am going to have to study."
Beidler said if the state orders it, the sheriff needs a say in its set-up to ensure the public is protected.
He'll be cooperative. "We need to move forward with the rest of the state and rest of the communities."
Greene would do so reluctantly.
"This bill is bull. It will lead to an increase in crime because felons will be on the street instead of behind bars," he said.
The plot thickens.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield's column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Monday on the Morning Show on KSER 90.7 FM. He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
In this unfolding electoral drama, only two will survive to face off in the sequel this fall.
Beidler is the street cop, a sheriff's lieutenant with a bit of swagger, a onetime SWAT leader now leading those who patrol the county's north realm.
He's got big fans among the men and women wearing the uniforms, piling up endorsements from the Deputy Sheriff's Association and police officer unions in Arlington, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe and Snohomish.
Greene is the executive, a low-key, law-and-order type who runs the sheriff's administrative services. He cut his teeth cuffing criminals in Los Angeles County and is now number three in this county's chain of command.
He's the choice of the sheriffs of King, Pierce, Skagit and seven other counties, several police chiefs and past leaders of the Snohomish County GOP.
Lovick is the politician, a Democrat in his fifth term in the state Legislature who also wore a badge 31 years in the State Patrol.
He's got Democrats, starting with the county party's endorsement, plus more campaign experience and greater name recognition. He's hoping the wave of voters that backed Democrats last year hasn't receded.
So far, the three are flexing their resumes with few dust-ups.
Issues are looming, one with a history of controversy.
It's work release, a program placing convicted criminals in jobs near the end of their sentences. Snohomish County has no such programs but Monday the state Department of Corrections may suggest it get one.
Folks won't like that news; Charles Rodman Campbell is why.
Campbell, a convicted rapist, killed two women and a child in 1982 while on work release in Everett. He was executed in 1994.
Memories of that crime have fueled opposition that's kept the county free of the program. The state last tried in 1998.
This time may be different. A new law requires "equitable distribution" statewide of these programs. The intent is for persons granted work release to serve it in the county where they were convicted.
Lovick voted for the law, saying it's about more than work release. It provides offenders education, drug treatment and job training to steer them away from crime.
"I did not know all the details" on work release, he said. "It is something I am going to have to study."
Beidler said if the state orders it, the sheriff needs a say in its set-up to ensure the public is protected.
He'll be cooperative. "We need to move forward with the rest of the state and rest of the communities."
Greene would do so reluctantly.
"This bill is bull. It will lead to an increase in crime because felons will be on the street instead of behind bars," he said.
The plot thickens.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield's column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be heard at 8 a.m. Monday on the Morning Show on KSER 90.7 FM. He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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