A fired Island County sheriff’s deputy with 32 years of law enforcement experience is facing a former Washington State Patrol Trooper of the Year in the Island County sheriff race.
The showdown is among the most colorful of the five contested Island County races on the ballot.
If elected, Democrat Jay Wallace said he’ll use the knowledge he gained while working for the Sheriff’s Office to reorganize the department. Republican Mark C. Brown said he’ll focus existing resources on fighting drugs, sex crimes and traffic accidents.
Brown retired as a trooper from the State Patrol in 2002, after a 28-year career. Since then, he’s worked as an officer in the patrol’s commercial division, doing safety inspections of vehicles in Stanwood.
Wallace worked alternately as a sergeant and an inspector for the San Francisco Police Department from 1969 to 1990. From 1995 until he was fired earlier this year, he was an Island County deputy.
Wallace, 64, said his management experience with the San Francisco police, coupled with his time on the force investigating drugs, rape and assault, make him the better candidate.
“There’s a breakdown in camaraderie and morale,” Wallace said. “There’s many antiquated methods and systems they’re using right now, and I intend to bring them up to the 21st century.”
Brown, 59, said his career with the State Patrol taught him the importance of interagency cooperation.
If elected, he said, he’ll combat the county’s drug problem by forming a task force with members of the Sheriff’s Office, the Oak Harbor Police Department and the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s investigative branch. He also plans to establish weekly office hours on Camano Island.
“Whether it’s coffee with six or seven people or a town hall meeting with 600, I’m going to dedicate myself to being involved in the community,” Brown said.
While he respects the work of Sheriff Mike Hawley – who is not running for re-election – Brown said he would make some organizational changes if elected. Wallace was more critical and vowed to cure the “mismanagement” he says plagues the department.
Wallace faces charges of false swearing, a misdemeanor, in Island County Superior Court for the incident that led to his firing from the Sheriff’s Office. He is accused of lying about the details of a 911 hang-up call he was sent to in February.
He denies the charges, calling them “political assassination.”
The salary for the new sheriff is set at $78,318 a year.
Other Island County races:
* Democrat Dave Mattens and Republican Don Mason are vying for the assessor’s office.
* Democrat John Dean is challenging incumbent Republican William J. Byrd for a spot on the County Commission.
* Prosecuting Attorney Greg Banks, a Democrat, is hoping to stave off a bid from Republican Steve Selby.
* County Treasurer Linda E. Riffe, a Democrat, is competing against Republican businessman John W. Morrow.
For more information, go to the Island County Voter’s Guide at www.islandcounty.net/auditor.
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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