Bill Hunt to Challenge Iron Mike

If the rumor mill is correct and it usually is--OC Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Bill Hunt will continue his campaign for Sheriff--even though his boss announced he will seek a third term.

Its no secret that I think Hunt has acted foolishly in the past.  But WOW.  Given the perfect opportunity to bow out gracefully, he is forging ahead.

Is Sheriff Carona unbeatable?  No.  No one is invincible.  But I challenge anyone to come up with a candidate who could come within 25% points of beating him.

Names anyone?

Comments

[HuntWatch]

Hunt better get used to changing his clothes a lot. I don't think he understands that you can't campaign in uniform, which he likes to do. I'm sure he wants to look just like the guy on those baseball cards...

HW

[redperegrine]

I'm not so sure about that 25% spread. Is there any action on that? If there is, I might want a piece of it.

I remember back in the 90s when Fullerton's Favorite Flatfoot, Don Bankhead, a man with virtually "support" challenged Brad Gates and actually got something like 45% of the vote.

[someone on the inside]

This is not good news, Bill Hunt is a great guy and would have been a good Sheriff.

His decision is foolish, maybe selfish too, because considering who ( I won't say names) it's rumored that also wants the job, he may get it now-when Carona leaves.

And this person will be a disaster and will destroy the department.

[gadfly]

We have all heard you opinion about what Bill Hunt should do. Obviously, if your source is correct, Hunt will move forward with his bid for sheriff. That aside, you amaze me with you slanted view of history. Open your eyes. Who is it that has acted foolish? It has been Mike Carona. It appears that we learn more about his mistakes, misjudgment and mismanagement everyday in the papers.

Carona’s legacy is mired with management blunders and poor decisions. It started when he surrounded himself with Jaramillo and Haidl, and then begged the Board of Supervisors to allow his brotherhood of morons on staff. To make matters worse, he continued to support these “goodfellas”, against any commonsense and in blatant disregard to the advice of others. Obviously, they’re not teaching commonsense and how to judge character in management school these days.

Carona’s “it’s not my fault” explanation that he provided for his first and second term failures isn’t going to fly. He can claim it was 9-11 or Samantha Runnion, but his underlying message is that he has not been doing his job as sheriff, a county position. He has been too busy traveling the campaign trail pushing Amber Alert or representing his own interests on terrorism committees. Both of which take him out of Orange County, where he most obviously should have been.

Carona is the one who had his opportunity to “bow out gracefully”, as you put it. I wonder if he really has the fight left in him, or is this just a scare tactic to get Hunt and others to back off. From what I have heard from the guys in green that I know, Hunt already has strong support from the members (something Carona may be lacking). And Hunt's support is rising fast. I wonder why. He has a simple message: Hunt wants to be "Orange County" sheriff, not America's.

One thing about the foolishness of politics. You must know that incumbents never announce fifteen months before an election. Unless, of course, they’re scared someone might actually be able to beat them.

[PiG]

Say what you want, but Bill Hunt wears his uniform because he is proud of it. He has spent more than two decades representing the sheriff’s department with integrity, honor, commitment, and dedication. He has done all these things for the people of Orange County, not for himself. Simple put, that’s what cops do. He has earned the right.

On the other hand, Carona wears his uniform as a political prop. He has no idea what that uniform stands for and he never will. How could he? He has never, ever done the job. He’s never made an arrest (warrants don’t count), investigated a crime (No, he didn’t catch Avila; others did that for him), and he will never earn our respect. Unlike Bill Hunt, Carona wears our uniform for himself, not for the people. You see, that’s what politicians do.

We don’t need a politician to be sheriff. We need a cop who is politically savvy. We need Bill Hunt.

You can sign me PIG (Proud in Green).

[OC Lawman]

I read Jubal's post and wanted to read the original comment from PiG.

I think you exagerated a lot from what he wrote, and drew quite a conclusion from it. We should all have your insight.

[Nene]

Bill Hunt was a segeant when Carona took office. He told Carona he shared his vision for the department and so he was promoted to Lt. both for his experience and his support of the Sheriff's management. He then apparently approached Carona and asked for mentorship for a future bid for Sheriff, though said he would never run against the Sheriff...just wanted to be like him.

Now his only way to have a voice is to criticize the organization. As a Lt. he is in a position to suggest and affect change from within, yet if anything is currently wrong it is not his fault. Just like Bill Hunt's involvement with Don Haidl's kid is now a forgotten moment Bilkl won't claim ownership of...Bill should take care of himself and his judgement and decision making before he starts tearing down the rest of the Sheriff's Department. Bill you are in a glass house and throwing rocks...FOOL!

[James Rick]

Having never met Mike Carona or Bill Hunt, I would like to know more about any alternative that is stepping forward to run against the Sheriff. I have already seen, first hand, how the existing administration operates.

After recent experiences with the Sheriff's Reserves, following my Sheriff sponsored training and graduation as a Level III Reserve, it was with both disappointment and relief I read the letter rejecting my second effort to comply with the ambiguous standards of the Orange County Sheriff Department Reserves.

I was looking forward to being a good and useful reserve deputy volunteering my services as other good paid and unpaid men and women there. Like so many serving now, I would have "made do" under the circumstances created by today's politics within OCSD.

Instead, I consider my rejection a compliment that a few feel I do not fit in the dysfunctional family OCSD has shown itself to be since my initial acceptance and sponsorship. I am reinforced by learning that, retroactively, The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training has rejected 86 sworn reservists preceding me. Today, it may be be better to be on the outside looking in.

Recruiting would be well served if it were to be as honest, up front, and fully disclosing as demanded from applicants. In spite of great promise that the Reserve background method was "new and improved," and if I were only to reapply, a fair process could be expected, Carona's machine wasted my time, money and that of the taxpayers of Orange County, once again.

I have never seen it take so long to do so little by so many in such an inconsiderate manner. The whole experience has made me wonder why any reserve applicant, without money and influence, should expect a thorough and proper consideration. How many of the "86" were tasked with evaluating my worthiness?

You see, I believe the reserve program would thrive and grow especially after a good extermination of the cronyism. To those that toy with the time and effort given by worthy citizens offering to serve, I wish them a speedy departure as the OCSD house is cleaned.

[Rudy Flores]

I am a retired L.A.P.D. Detective, I want to work for your campaingen, please contact me.

[Jason]

I don't know if anyone will see this new comment on an old post, but the Bill Hunt For Sheriff campaign is having a fundraiser at Kelly's in Tustin tomorrow evening (6/16 6pm), and I'm hoping to be able to make it (might be tough with a new 3-month-old to spend time with!) to meet him face-to-face and add a first-hand opinion to the third-hand info I've gleaned from Frank Mickadeit's series of columns. If I make it I'll post back with impressions.

[det60]

I think Bill Hunt sincerely wants to do the best job he can. He is all about law enforcement, not politics. I would be interested in hearing when the fundraisers are, and helping any way possible. Is there a campaign website?

[OCHB]

A friend of mine went to the Kellys event. The campaign is gaining influencial support. Some of Carona's republician backing is dwindling.
For hundreds of years popes were picked by cardinals who knew them, worked side by side, and the most deserving was handpicked. This system has always been foolproof, with long term satisfaction always for the pope nominated. Isn't it a shame that the same can't happen in the Sheriff's dept? We would see a landslide victory for Bill Hunt. Lets ask ourselves who the guys who work so hard for our safety would want to lead them?? We will make Orange County realize that they need someone without a political self serving agenda and Mike Hunts experience and long term dedication will pay off.
Please think about that while your casting your vote OC.

[redperegrine]

OCHB, unlike the Catholic College of Cardinals we here in the US have public elections, and it's a good thing, too. Every now and then the voters can clean out in-bred, incestuous organizations that have habitually influenced the selection of their own leaders.

[James Rick]

Verbatim Comments
By James Patrick Rick
To the Orange County Supervisors
Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Good morning members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. My name is James Patrick Rick of Laguna Hills. I am speaking in opposition to the Sheriff’s request that a private law firm represent him as he appeals the POST decision denying waivers to his hand-selected reserve deputies.

Offering you a brief background of myself having expertise and insight on the matter originally before the Board today, I am a private citizen in the business of medical imaging. After attending the 2002 Citizen’s Academy in Laguna Niguel at age 55, I became more interested in law enforcement and was urged by deputies at this good Community Policing Program to apply as a Level III Orange County Sheriff Reserve.

I made plans to do this and after submitting all of the required background paperwork, I was issued a Sheriff’s uniform and gun. At significant sacrifice to my work and income, I began the Sheriff’s Reserve Academy in April 2003.

Successfully completing this 120 hour academy in July, 2003, I formally invited friends and family to attend graduation. My son and daughter flew from Texas to see their Dad sworn in.

Unfortunately, just 48 hours before the ceremony, I was summoned to a meeting with the Sergeant in charge of the reserve unit and asked to turn in my uniform. He told me that I could not attend graduation because a background check had revealed that I was on a payment plan with the IRS for back taxes dating back to the late 1980s and had credit issues from the distant past……... all fully disclosed in my detailed application.

My story is similar to two other individuals in my class and, as it turns out, other reserve academy classes before and after ours.

I am here today because I am disappointed that after strictly applying a set of background standards to me, the Sheriff is now seeking to obtain waivers for his close friends and supporters so that they can become deputies without the same scrutiny that I was subjected to.

Your approval of private legal resources could facilitate the reinstatement of several dozen reserves that may have criminal histories or failed psychological evaluations. This could create serious legal liability for the County of Orange and would dilute the integrity of the good volunteers who have properly trained and serve as reserves today.

I became involved in the reserves in an effort to serve my community by giving my time. I was rejected due to relatively minor past credit issues, yet no background waiver was offered to me.

I now feel that the Sheriff’s efforts to appeal the State Commission's decision denying background waivers for his supporters suggest to me that the Sheriff’s criteria for background investigations is not consistently applied and favors those who have the proven ability to be financial contributors to his campaign.

I am opposed to the allocation of any funds which would assist Sheriff Carona in rewarding his political supporters by appealing the POST decision denying his requested background waivers. Thank you.

[OCHB]

Redperegrine, I think you missed my point. I have nothing against public elections. I think we need to get to know WHO we are voting for and WHY, and actually familiarize ourselves with the issues. Then and only then can we clean out "inbred" "incestuous" organizations. I happen to think that deputizing campaign donors and lowering dept standards to bring in your corrupt henchmen is pretty dowright dirty incestuous....So let's clean it out and vote for someone who has earned our respect the hard way.

oh well, the s%$t hit the fan today didn't it?