By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Reading my "County of San Diego Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet" today, I learned that there is a Dumanis-Kolender slate being offered to the voters  As District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Sheriff Bill Kolender are both members of our Jewish community, I found myself interested in knowing what they had to say.  

I figured that having this in common,  Dumanis and Kolender would be particularly careful not to recommend anyone who might be unfriendly to Jews or other minorities.  At a time when the Iranian parliament reportedly  is considering requiring minorities to wear different colored ribbons on their clothes (shades of the Holocaust!) and some people in our own city are getting all roiled up over "saving" the Mt. Soledad Cross, I'd  like to have the assurance that whomever we elect won't be fanatical about religious matters.

Being unopposed for reelection, except by any write-in candidate that might eventuate, Dumanis is a shoo-in for a second four-year term. Accordingly, she didn't need to spend any money preparing a "Candidate's Statement" for the June 6 primary election voter pamphlet. One assumes that if she had issued such a statement, it would have included an endorsement from Kolender, just as the sheriff's campaign statement makes it known that Dumanis supports him in his race against Bruce Ruff, a sergeant in his own department.

Ruff is not expected to give Kolender a rough time.  In the pamphlet arguments, they sound better matched than they really are. Kolender not only has the backing of Dumanis, he also has all the county supervisors pulling for him,  as well as the Deputy Sheriff's Association and PORAC, which represents law enforcement officials in other police departments.  

In the argument, Ruff says even though the Sheriff's office has spent over $4 billion in the last 12 years—Kolender already has served three four-year terms—"the Sheriff's Department is really 60 percent less capable of handling a major event than in 1994.  San Diego County's law enforcement is less trained, equipment, staffed than it could be," Ruff contends.  "Safety equipment readily available to law enforcement for years is still not available to the sheriff's personnel who respond to your emergencies."

Kolender's statement apparently anticipated what Ruff's charges would be.  He answers; "Your Sheriff's Department is better prepared, equipped, staffed and trained than at any other time in history.  Coordination among federal state and local law enforcement has never been better.  Violent crime rates are at a 20 year low." 

Of some interest is that whereas candidates for three Superior Court  judgeships as well as for reelection as county assessor and county treasurer all  make a point of mentioning that they were endorsed by both Dumanis and Kolender, I didn't find any candidates who either had or trumpeted a rough endorsement.

Following  are quotes from five other candidates statements concerning their endorsements in the June 6 election by Dumanis and Kolender: 

Superior Court Judge Randa M. Trapp, Superior Court Office No. 16—"Supported by Law Enforcement and the Legal Community: Judge Randa Trapp is endorsed by Sheriff Bill Kolender...District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis...San Diego Mayor/ Former Police Chief Jerry Sanders....  Recognized for her honesty and integrity: "Judge Trapp has a proven record of fairness, honesty and integrity on the bench. I urge you to support her re-election"—Sheriff Bill Kolender. ..."We can trust Judge Trapp to make fair decisions for our community."—District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. 

Judge Trapp is opposed for election by James V. Hairgrove.

Rod Shelton (Deputy District Attorney), Superior Court Office No. 36—"Rod Shelton—Law Enforcement's Choice: Endorsed by Sheriff Bill Kolender, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.... Rod Shelton—Highly Qualified:.."Rod Shelton is my choice for judge.."—Sheriff Bill Kolender.

Shelton is running for an open judicial seat that has also attracted as candidates Larry "Jake" Kincaid, Lisa M.Laqua, and Carla Nasoff.

David M. Rubin (Deputy District Attorney), Superior Court Office No. 49—"Law Enforcement's Choice for Judge is Deputy District Attorney David Rubin.  Those we trust to keep us safe went Rubin for judge.  They include Sheriff Bill Kolender...District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis..."

Rubin opposes former District Attorney Paul Pfingst, who was defeated by Dumanis four years ago.

County Assessor/ Recorder/County Clerk Gregory J. Smith—Endorsements: Sheriff Bill Kolender, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Treasurer/Tax Collector Dan McAllister and every member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Smith's opponent is Howard Johnson.

County Treasurer/ Tax Collector Dan McAllister—Endorsements: Sheriff Bill Kolender, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, County Assessor Gregory J. Smith..."

McAllister does not have any declared opponents, yet still wanted everyone to know who was supporting him.