We amplify community voices, share the power of real information, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. She fell into a civilian technician job in the sheriffs department, and later a sworn position because she needed more stable employment. It requires the change agent to have a different vision, Walker said at a League of Women Voters forum last month. "The fundamental basis of my platform is: Accountability. Since most small police agencies do not have their own training academies, the sheriffs office trains recruits who go on to work as police officers throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. Please try again later. Your support is powering our newsroom! "This includes appropriate responses to mental health incidents, crisis intervention training and a focus on de-escalation," Sanchez said. The sheriff oversees an office with far-reaching and wide-ranging responsibilities, while managing a massive budget and the East Bays largest law enforcement agency. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Greg Ahern, incumbent. Incumbent Gregory Ahern -- who has held his seat at the helm of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) since 2007 -- and his challengers ACSO Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and veteran San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker participated in the two-hour discussion, each answering questions about their plans for the position Greg Oselinsky Police Lieutenant- Retired at City of Mountain View El Dorado Hills, CA. Thank you. De La Fuente told The Oaklandside that Ahern kept a quiet presence, even with his department under fire about deaths at the jail and his other public controversies. Ahern ran that year unopposed and was elected. I knew this was a really good opportunity to force a runoff or a win outright, Kusiak said. She also wants to prioritize hiring more women by expanding how and where the sheriffs office holds recruiting events. The sheriff is stubborn in one sense and sees things the way he wants to see them. Can Oakland become a filmmaking hub? 201,827 votes. "Compare that to the other candidates, and I think (voters) would see that I'd be the best choice to be sheriff for the next four years.". I had to make use of every minute.. She also appears to have picked up votes in San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, Alameda, and southern Alameda County, which helped propel her over the 50% threshold to clinch the primary. The voters have spoken. Theres already oversight, he said. She first worked as a technician in North County Jail in Oakland, then spent eight years as a deputy on patrol, at the jail, and as an investigator before becoming a sergeant. The current sheriff, she said, has too much influence over the disciplinary process. In 2009, his budget was slashed $21.7 million, which has had a lasting effect on services provided at Santa Rita Jail and elsewhere. I represent the change Alameda County needs. Yesenia Sanchez, challenger. Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates, sheriff's office Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker. Yesenia Sanchez wants to train inmates, rehabilitate, etc., etc. With all . During her campaign, shes promised to demilitarize the sheriffs approach to policing, limit cooperation with federal immigration agents, and conduct a review of all department policies, training practices, and internal procedures. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. Those endorsements also gave voters a sense of who Sanchez, a political unknown, is and what policies she might implement, Ross said. During his time at BANG, DeBolt covered Oakland City Hall, the Raiders stadium saga and the As search for a new ballpark, as well as the Oakland Police Department and police reform efforts. "It's very clear that I have the qualifications and experience needed to continue on as sheriff," Ahern told the Weekly in a recent interview. Those are kind of issues that affect the Latinos, those of us who are really concerned with law enforcement accountability.. During his time at BANG, DeBolt covered Oakland City Hall, the Raiders stadium saga and the As search for a new ballpark, as well as the Oakland Police Department and police reform efforts. by David DeBolt May 6, 2022 There is a loss in revenue if you ask me. And what does the county sheriff do, anyway? Aherns endorsements include former Gov. Uploaded: Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:41 pm "Sanchez said she would also look to engage the community to improve crime prevention and safety efforts by the sheriff's office. Gavin Newsom for cameras to aid in quick response and investigations into freeway shootings. Unlike the Oakland police chief, who is hired by the mayor and can be fired without cause by the mayor and a majority of the civilian police commission, the Alameda County sheriff is elected, giving them more independence and power and making it difficult to remove them from the office without an election. Michael Carroll, a captain in the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, started a campaign and ended it within a month. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Sheriff deputy Mike Carroll entered soon after and picked up the endorsement of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Supporters say he has the know-how to run both the law enforcement and administerial duties of sheriff, and that his years in the office set him apart. The countys election results map shows she dominated in the northern more urban part of the county in Berkeley, Oakland, and Emeryville, winning virtually every precinct. "A great deal of work needs to be done to reduce crime while also building public trust effectively," Walker stated. Sanchez will be sworn in at the end of Aherns fourth term, sometime in January. Im going to call bullshit on that. I was concerned that I wasnt seeing people organizing, people knocking on doors. Declaration of Candidacy Issue Date: Declaration of Candidacy File Date: Declaration of Intention Issue Date: Declaration of Intention File Date: PETER Y LIU. Santa Rita Jail has more than 600 employees and accounts for roughly $300 million of the budget. Even Aherns supporters viewed him as vulnerable. Blogs It was the countys first contested sheriffs election since 1986. The way the June 7 primary election works: if none of the candidates receives 50% or more of the vote, a runoff between the top two vote-getters will be held during the November general election. I started off with nothing and was a civilian. It is uncomfortable. View Post All registered voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail Ballot for this election. Alameda County Sheriff Coroner Gregory J. Ahern speaks as first responders are honored during an Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. She has emphasized her experience in handling domestic violence cases, and in crisis support and suicide prevention support as a volunteer in Alameda County. Alameda County Sheriff's Commander Yesenia Sanchez (pictured at left) and San Francisco police Officer JoAnn Walker (pictured at right) are running against Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary election. "I will work to repair and build trust with marginalized communities, including immigrant and undocumented communities, to ensure they are provided with equitable services regardless of citizenship status. Jerry Brown. Special Pubs | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. In one of the most stunning political upsets in Alameda Countys recent political history, Sanchez defeated Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary. "I will work to repair and build trust with marginalized communities, including immigrant and undocumented communities, to ensure they are provided with equitable services regardless of citizenship status. Terry Wiley 46.8%. And if you carry that brand, it tells people a lot about who you are, Ross said. Yesenia Sanchez has a long career in law enforcement and is. With introspection, hard work and cooperation, we can make the needed changes at the Alameda County Sheriffs Department," she states on her campaign website. She noted that before her leadership tenure, Santa Rita Jail had come "under federal oversight for its historic poor treatment of incarcerated people, inmate deaths, and low accountability.". The Oaklandside reached out multiple times to Walkers campaign for an interview. Circulation & Delivery Shes been my supervisor a couple of times, and shes a great leader, said supporter Michael Ladner. A California sheriff's deputy sought in the fatal slayings of a couple early Wednesday has turned himself in after a statewide search, officials said. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. As commander of the jail, she oversees the largest sector of the sheriffs office. Los Angeles - Renondo Beach City and Redondo Beach Unified School District. Sanchez declared victory in an interview with The Oaklandside on Tuesday evening after most ballots had been counted. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The issues that confronted the sheriff and his department have come home to roost, Miley said. The Coroners Bureau, which is also under the sheriff, conducts autopsies of people who die in car wrecks, overdoses, COVID-19 cases, and deaths by shootings, stabbings, blunt force trauma, and other suspicious deaths. In an interview with The Oaklandside last week, Mariano Contreras, an Oakland resident and member of the Latino Taskforce said that over the past few months Sanchez emerged with a platform offering reformist goals, compared to Aherns conservative law-and-order messaging. Yesenia Sanchez led the race for sheriff-coroner and nearly received the 50%-plus of overall votes needed to win the seat outright after an initial tally of ballots on Tuesday night. | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. Sanchez credited campaign consultant Doug Linney and local leaders such as Kathy Neal in helping her secure endorsements and reach voters who until recently had never heard of her. Alameda County Sheriff/Coroner Gregory Ahern's support has come from people in law enforcement, real estate, and car dealership owners, who have donated tens of thousands of dollars to Ahern. "Devin Williams was the catalyst," Lieutenant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office told CNN. (Contributed photos). Walker, a progressive alternative, made a splash announcing her campaign for sheriff along with civil rights attorney Pamela Prices run for district attorney. Salary: $112,736.00 - $135,928.00 per year. Voters have the rare opportunity to decide a competitive race for Alameda County sheriff-coroner as incumbent Greg Ahern is being challenged by two candidates, sheriff's office Division Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco Police Department Officer JoAnn Walker. She picked up key endorsements and aligned herself with other local progressive candidates in a campaign that may be seen as a model for unseating incumbent sheriffs. We need more community input and engagement, and transparency and accountability need to be priorities," Sanchez, a Livermore resident, told the Weekly. If elected probably would not submit to interviews, this in itself indicates lack of transparency. Top candidate wins seat. The Sheriff of Alameda County is responsible for a vast array of tasks and duties, including the following: Ahern told The Oaklandside he is running for his fifth term because of recent challenges, in particular the class-action lawsuit that resulted in a consent decree at Santa Rita Jail. In January 2021, I joined JoAnn Walker who is a candidate for Alameda County Sheriff on our criminal justice reform slate. Learn more. TownSquare March 7. 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. She calls on her range of assignments while with the SFPD on topics such as terrorism, community relations, field training, peer support counseling, academy instruction, hate crimes, tactical communications, and crisis support and suicide prevention. I want to be the example for Alameda County, the region, and the state on how we are addressing crime, the driving factors of crime, and what our solutions are so we can be the example for reform.. Thats the one thing I havent done. 1 On Tuesday evening, Yesenia Sanchez was still absorbing her stunning victory in the Alameda Countys sheriffs election. Ahern said his office already undergoes accreditation and reviews by the federal and state Department of Justice, the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury, the California Board of State and Community Corrections, and is subject to reviews by the state Attorney General. Below is a look at the three candidates, their priorities, and where they stand on key issues. The Dublin facility will be under court monitoring for three years. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Peter Yuan Liu (Nonpartisan) Superintendent of Schools Nonpartisan primary election The Sheriff of Alameda County is responsible for a vast array of tasks and duties, including the following: Sanchez joined the Alameda County Sheriffs Office as a technician in 1997 and moved up the ranks as deputy sheriff, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and is currently the division commander overseeing the Santa Rita jail in Dublin. He told The Oaklandside that it wasnt the role of the Board of Supervisors to defund the police and that the voters would ultimately decide who they wanted to run the sheriffs office. Only two people have occupied the office since 1986, and neither ever faced a challenger in a single election. Ahern trailed with 31.2% and a third candidate, San Francisco police officer JoAnn. He also placed importance on his current role as the director of emergency servicescoordinating responses to wildfires and other disastersfor a region that covers the Bay Area and a large swath of Northern California. (Alameda County Sheriff's Office) Indivisible East Bay, The Independent, Livermore Vine, and Pleasanton Weekly all co-sponsored the forum. We have listed them in alphabetical order. Listen to this article. Official Election Site of Alameda County. Express Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Peter Yuan Liu (Nonpartisan) Campaign themes 2022 Ballotpedia survey responses - A total of 47 Alameda County Sheriff's deputies were told on Friday that they were relieved of their law enforcement duties because they received unsatisfactory results on their. "The fundamental basis of my platform is: Accountability. I think it is time for a new person to come in.. Time to read: about 4 minutes, The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. The Oaklandside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. OAKLAND -- Longtime incumbent Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern is headed to a November runoff against sheriff's Cmdr. Ahern conceded the election to Sanchez in a statement tweeted out by the sheriffs office on Wednesday. Sheriff commanders, who run search-and-rescue and dive teams, the crime lab, the gun range, and a regional training center, where current officers train, all work under the sheriff. "Ahern, who rose through the ranks of the sheriff's office since being hired as a deputy-sheriff in 1980, including a long stint with Dublin Police Services under the city-county contract, has been the county's sheriff since January 2007 after winning election in 2006.The incumbent's campaign website describes his mission as to "protect the public, build strong relationships with the community, and prevent people from turning to crime through prevention, enforcement, programs, and service. NEW YORK The former head of engineering at Sam Bankman-Fried's bankrupt cryptocurrency trading firm FTX owned up to fraud charges on Tuesday, federal prosecutors said. Also running for Alameda County Sheriff is JoAnn Walker, a 26-year San Francisco police officer who has won support from a handful of council members in Oakland, Fremont and San Leandro.. Voter Guide for California Midterm Elections 2022. Last modified on Tue 27 Sep 2022 15.05 EDT. He was part of the East Bay Times staff honored with the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire. 2023 PleasantonWeekly.com. Sign up for The Oaklandsides free daily newsletter. Among her key campaign visions, Sanchez lists out rehabilitation of and job training for the jail population, racial justice in law enforcement, community engagement and accountability. Carroll ended his campaign quietly after a few months and Neideffer suspended his campaign a week before Ahern announced in June 2021 that he would seek another term. After serving as associate editor for the Pleasanton Weekly and DanvilleSanRamon.com, he was promoted to editor of the East Bay Division in February 2017. Too much emphasis has been placed on staffing contract serviceslike at the airport and AC Transit patrolat the expense of staffing Santa Rita Jail. Locally, only Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco run their own police academies. This practice has added pressure on jail deputies and caused problems in the personal lives of some, she said. Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker are challenging incumbent Gregory Ahern to oversee the countys largest law enforcement agency. Marty Neideffer. David DeBolt reported on City Hall and policing for The Oaklandside. Gavin Newsom for cameras to aid in quick response and investigations into freeway shootings.On the issue of accountability, Ahern said he is "firmly committed to transparency, de-escalation, and advanced training so that public interactions with law enforcement are always fair, safe, and professional.He added, "There has never been a more critical time to have a proven and effective leadership. Each has a major impact on Oakland residents and we've covered the candidates and major issues in previous stories. Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter. Racial Justice in Law Enforcement. Her stated top priorities include rehabilitation and job training for incarcerated people, racial justice in law enforcement, holding the sheriffs office accountable, and improving relationships with the community. Sanchez is in favor of establishing a civilian oversight board for the sheriffs office and promises to end cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "This includes appropriate responses to mental health incidents, crisis intervention training and a focus on de-escalation," Sanchez said. The Oral Board Interview is administered by Alameda County Human Resources Services and is conducted by a panel consisting of Sheriff's Office sworn personnel. A graduate of Patterson High School in the rural Central Valley town of Patterson, at age 19 Sanchez moved back to Hayward where she had spent her childhood. Thank you. 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