OCCWS Endorses Craig Hunter for Sheriff

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Anaheim deputy chief in sheriff race

November 19, 2009 5:34 PM
Anaheim deputy chief in sheriff race
By FRANK MICKADEIT
COLUMNIST
fmickadeit@ocregister.com

The race for Orange County sheriff got significantly more interesting this week with the entry of Anaheim Deputy Police Chief Craig Hunter. He joins incumbent Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and former Sheriff's Lt. Bill Hunt as the announced candidates for the June election.

Hunter's entry could well close out the field of serious candidates. The political bloc that is unhappy with Hutchens and either doesn't like Hunt or doesn't think he can win had been searching for a strong candidate. The two other top contenders were Santa Ana Chief Paul Walters and outgoing Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson, both better known than Hunter. With neither Walters nor Anderson stepping forward, the door was open for Hunter who was a finalist for the job the supervisors ultimately gave Hutchens.

Hutchens has already locked up many endorsements from community groups and political and business leaders. Hunt has support from the anti-illegal-immigration crowd and some of those who don't like Hutchens' restrictive policy on conceal-and-carry weapons (CCW) permits. Hunter will have to get the establishment that hasn't already backed Hutchens – Mike Schroeder is a major supporter of Hunter's – and pull in some of the gun crowd. He also hopes to get the deputies' and county employees' unions.

It's a little too soon for the unions to commit to anyone. But one major local pro-gun group endorsed Hunter a couple of days ago. Bill Prentice, founder of Ordinary California Citizens Concerned With Safety, told me Hunter told the group he would use his discretion under state law "in the most liberal manner possible" to issue CCW permits. Hunt has said essentially the same thing, and also has some pro-CCW supporters. But Prentice said his group went with Hunter because of baggage Hunt carries from the Carona Era (even though no one was more anti-Carona than Hunt) and because the group doesn't believe Hunt's pro-CCW stance is consistent. Three PACs loosely affiliated with O.C.C.C. W. S and have significant crossover membership have close to $1 million.

Hunter will clearly draw some support from business and political leaders in and around Anaheim, where he has worked 27 years. Trash mogul Bill Taormina is hosting a Dec. 7 luncheon for him at Mr. Stox. While Hutchens is the prohibitive favorite with huge name I.D., if those gun PACs start spending on Hunter and Hunter gets benefit of independent expenditures by the unions, the race becomes very interesting.


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Mickadeit writes Mon.-Fri. Contact him at 714-796-4994 or fmickadeit@ocregister.com