Eons ago I asked if Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca could be beat and promised to revisit the issue. See it here.
Since that time Baca’s run jail system has seen a week worth of riots and now they have spread to the youth facilities. See a sample here.
Baca has never been popular among most Republicans. While he nominally a registered Republican, he supports Democrats all the time, likes grabbing guns and sponsored a tax increase that failed last year.
His administration has bungled more than just the jail riots, there have been escapes and killings of witnesses while in Sheriff custody. There are whispers of corruption and clearly mismanagement is a big issue. Deputies are leaving. The early release progarms is a tragedy. Some LA papers may want Baca gone as well.
Usually, that is bad news for an incumbent. But in Los Angeles County you have to have huge bucks to run county wide. Incumbent Sheriffs don’t get beat in LA. Baca did beat incumbent Sherman Bloch, only after he died during the run off. (I’m proud to say that I joined great Republicans like Mike Antonovich is casting a vote for the deceased Bloch rather than Baca.)
So who is running against Baca and pay attention to the Cash on hand (COH) as of 1/31?
Paul Jernigan, a Sergeant in the Department. COH $900
Ray Leyva is a Captain and has been invoved in the Hispanic officer oraganizations. Rumors are that some like County Supervisor Gloria Molina may be wuth him. COH $9,800
Michael . McComas, who has filed no paperwork.
The other two are the most active Republicans.
Don Meredith, who I know back when he was in the GOP Central Committee in Pat Nolan’s old district, is a Glendale Cop and thus an outsider to all the things going on in the Department. That could be a good thing. He is great guy, solid and COH is $18,000
Ken Masse is a retired Captain from the Dept. I met with him very early on and gave some advice.
He does have an extensive network and is a great , solid guy. COH just under $11,500 . The campaign has raised and burned through 100K (not my advice). So he can raise some money.
Obvoiusly, the more people in the race helps. If they all take a piece out of Baca, one of them may have a shot in a run-off. Problem though is Baca. COH $ 393,000 with an ability to raise more.
That’s the problem. Unless some one can get the resources in Baca will be a shoo in despite all the problems. The issues are there, but where is the money to make it happen?