One way to measure the success of a sheriff is to listen to the voters whose lives and property he is sworn to protect. Four years ago, Garry Lucas was re-elected to his fifth term as Clark County sheriff by a margin of 15 percentage points over challenger Timothy Shotwell. This year, in the August primary, Lucas outpolled Shotwell by almost 23 percentage points as they both advanced to the Nov. 2 general election.
Another measurement of a sheriff is experience. Lucas has worked 43 years in law enforcement. Shotwell has worked in the department about a decade after a 22-year career in the military. He rose to the ranks of sergeant, first class, in the Army, but has failed the test for sergeant in the Sheriff’s Department. Lucas spends much of his work time in the field (he makes about 200 traffic stops a year). Shotwell works in the jail, where he is president of the jail custody officers’ guild.
Yet another measurement of a sheriff is in professional education and training. Lucas is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the National Sheriff’s Institute and several executive and law enforcement training programs. Shotwell’s website lists no advanced training in law enforcement.
The choice in this November race could not be more clear. The Columbian strongly endorses Lucas for sheriff based on his two decades of effective leadership, stern management of the department’s budget during a grueling economic crisis and effective modernization of law enforcement policies and procedures.
To be sure, Lucas is not the most polished politician. But that shortcoming — if it even is one — is typical among many of the most successful sheriffs across the state. They didn’t enter law enforcement to shake hands, kiss babies and raise money for campaigns. They wanted to apprehend lawbreakers and make communities safer. In those more crucial areas, Sheriff Lucas’ reputation and record are impeccable.
Shotwell accuses Lucas of management deficiencies. Those charges might surprise local, regional and state law enforcement agencies with whom Lucas has built strong alliances over the years. And beyond law enforcement, attacks on Lucas’ managerial skills might surprise the Vancouver Sunrise Rotary and the Clark County Genealogical Society; in both groups he has been elected president. Lucas also has served on boards of Columbia River Mental Health, Boys & Girls Club and Vancouver School District Advisory Committee.
There is one similarity between Lucas and Shotwell. Each man believes elections for sheriff should be nonpartisan. We agree. Lucas is a Republican and Shotwell is a Democrat, but in no meaningful way does that make a difference.
Otherwise, the two men emerge as starkly different. Voters should recognize Lucas’ fine record by returning him to office.
County assessor
Neither of The Columbian’s recommendations for Clark County assessor advanced from the Aug. 17 primary. Among the two who did, Democrat Janet Seekins has worked in the office for almost 30 years and amassed the highest vote total in the primary. She outpaced the other finalist, Republican Peter Van Nortwick, by more than 18 percentage points. Seekins’ endorsement list is impressive. Her lack of management experience has been offset by an effective performance in her first political campaign.
Van Nortwick is a local appraiser who has waged a bitter, bomb-throwing campaign. Interestingly, the Clark County Association of Realtors, of which Van Nortwick is a member, has endorsed Seekins. A leader of that group said, “It was such an easy decision.”
The Columbian recommends Janet Seekins for county assessor.
