Editorials

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   HAVE YOUR SAY Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor. You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another. Send it to: E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206 Fax: 425-339-3458 Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).   Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 As sheriff, Lovick can push positive change Tom Greene and John Lovick are both qualified to serve as Snohomish County sheriff. Their key priorities even sound similar -- an emphasis on preventing crime by expanding community policing and pursuing the worst criminals, and using technology to improve efficiency. Our recommendation in this race comes down to which candidate can most effectively implement such changes. We think that candidate is Lovick, who would bring fresh eyes to department operations, an engaging and open communication style and the political background to help keep public safety high on county government's priority list. Lovick, a longtime state representative from Mill Creek and a retired sergeant in the Washington State Patrol, would put a visible and energetic face on the department. What he lacks at the outset in local policing experience can be mitigated by his ability to learn quickly and a capable command staff, which he pledges to assemble entirely from within. A good pick would be Lt. Rob Beidler, the talented officer we endorsed for sheriff in the primary. Greene has much to offer, too. As a bureau chief, he has worked for Sheriff Rick Bart (who is barred by term limits from running again), developing and administering the department budget, among other duties. Like Lovick, Greene is a man of principles and integrity. Greene's 25 years of experience in the department indicate a thorough knowledge of its operations and its challenges. We continue, however, to be perplexed by a proposal he's pushing called a "trigger ordinance." The idea would be to peg Sheriff's Office funding -- and, in turn, funding for the prosecutor and jail -- to the rise in emergency calls. When calls reach a certain threshold, funding goes up to meet the increased demand. Greene believes he can garner enough County Council support for his idea, but we don't think he's being realistic -- council members aren't likely to cede control over the major piece of the county budget by approving automatic increases. Besides, the goal should be to reduce the number of calls by preventing crime. A funding mechanism that rewards an increase in emergency calls could create a dangerous and counter-productive incentive. Lovick says he would work on improving communication, both internally and with the community, and he has the skills to do so. His political experience, and the relationships of trust he has built with many current county leaders -- including the executive and council -- put him in a strong position to influence the political decisions made about public safety. Lovick is a strong leader capable of inspiring others to lead. We think he'll do just that as Snohomish County sheriff. To read previous endorsements, visit www.heraldnet.com/section/OPINION and scroll down to "general election endorsements."

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