I knew this was a really good opportunity to force a runoff or a win outright, Kusiak said. Work begins to renovate Chabad building on Hopyard Road, Driver dies in head-on crash on Vasco Road, Planning Commission endorses design plans for mixed-use residential complex at Stoneridge Mall, Bus pass program aims to help people access social services, FDA approves first at-home test for both flu and COVID. In the past few weeks, the California Real Estate Political Action Committee contributed $10,000 to the sheriff's campaign, while the California . Santa Rita Jail has more than 600 employees and accounts for roughly $300 million of the budget. The sheriff sits atop a vast organizational chart. All rights reserved. Most inmates in Alameda County jail go to prisons in California when discharged from Alameda County jails. 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. Nonpartisan primary for Alameda County Sheriff-Coroner Yesenia Sanchez won election outright against incumbent Gregory Ahern and Joann Walker in the primary for Alameda County Sheriff-Coroner on June 7, 2022. The county sheriff also is the countys coroner, the official who oversees medical examinations of all suspicious deaths and homicides, and manages Santa Rita Jail, one of the largest jails in the nation. Why Oaklanders should care about the countys top seat, and whos running. As sheriff, Sanchez wants to review the offices contracts to build in language so that deputies are not pulled away from the jail to fill positions elsewhere. Those reports by pathologists determine the cause of death and can be crucial pieces of evidence and used in investigations, including people killed by the police. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Outspent by Ahern by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, Sanchezs campaign turned to volunteers in the final weeks before election day. On Tuesday evening, Yesenia Sanchez was still absorbing her stunning victory in the Alameda Countys sheriffs election. Monroe, receiving nearly 53% of the vote. 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. "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. Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Oakland, California. That is not something we should be doing.. If none of the three candidates get 50% or more of the vote in June, there will be a runoff election between the top two vote-getters in November. An Alameda County native, Ahern was hired as a deputy sheriff for the ACSO in 1980. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office impacts many aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice in the Tri-Valley and across the rest of the county, including policing in the unincorporated communities as well as select cities via contract such as Dublin, custodial oversight of detained defendants at county facilities like Santa Rita Jail, bailiff duties at the courthouses, coroner responses and investigations after deaths in the county, and regional support in emergencies and other cases. She currently is a division commander overseeing and managing Santa Rita Jail. If re-elected, Ahern said he will continue to focus on providing resources to combat what he says are the five drivers of crime: unemployment, poverty, lack of education, health, and environment. Greg Ahern, incumbent. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. Profile Endorsed by The sheriff said hes proud of the work his office has done to help people overcome drug addiction, expand vocational programs within Santa Rita Jail to help incarcerated people find work once released, and youth sports programs the office has funded. Accountability. 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 The Oaklandside relies on reader support to remain free for everyone in our community. Besides needing a background in law enforcement or being certified as a deputy or police officer, the job comes with a number of administrative duties. Final Filing Date: March 27, 2023. . 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. Although the candidates have a range of public endorsements, especially Ahern and Sanchez, with three names on the ballot and a 50%-plus-one majority required to win the four-year term outright in the June 7 election, it's a possibility the sheriff's seat could be decided in a November runoff in the end. The sheriff has drawn criticism over his decision to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents access to Santa Rita Jail in order to detain and deport undocumented detainees and was also criticized for using the controversial blue line flag in some of his campaign mailers. Embarcadero Media Signature in Lieu Issue Date: Signature in Lieu File Date: 01/23/2018. Updated at 7:28 PM PT on December 6, 2022. In 2009, his budget was slashed $21.7 million, which has had a lasting effect on services provided at Santa Rita Jail and elsewhere. Veteran law enforcement officer running to unseat longtime Alameda County sheriff By KTVU staff Published February 23, 2021 Updated 8:34AM Santa Rita Jail KTVU FOX 2 Captain running for Alameda. It speaks volumes of the change of leadership they were seeking, she said. The sheriff was above retirement age and there were questions over whether he might step aside. Change must be voted in. The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. 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.The Alameda County Sheriff's Office impacts many aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice in the Tri-Valley and across the rest of the county, including policing in the unincorporated communities as well as select cities via contract such as Dublin, custodial oversight of detained defendants at county facilities like Santa Rita Jail, bailiff duties at the courthouses, coroner responses and investigations after deaths in the county, and regional support in emergencies and other cases.Although the candidates have a range of public endorsements, especially Ahern and Sanchez, with three names on the ballot and a 50%-plus-one majority required to win the four-year term outright in the June 7 election, it's a possibility the sheriff's seat could be decided in a November runoff in the end.Experience -- or whether a change of leadership perspective is needed -- has emerged among the key themes of the campaign so far, along with public safety, racial justice reform, reducing recidivism and transparency. Building up to this years campaign, police reform activists had sought to widen the pool of candidates who could challenge Ahern by backing S.B. Thank you for supporting The Oaklandside and being a part of our community. Contact Us THIS IS A NEW CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. Blogs Ahern conceded the election to Sanchez in a statement tweeted out by the sheriffs office on Wednesday. In those times, the countys top cop can make emergency declarations and seek disaster funding through the state. With all . The Oaklandside reached out multiple times to Walkers campaign for an interview. And Alameda County Sheriff's division commander Ysenia Sanchez has created a campaign website. Stay in touch with Yesenia and up-to-date on the latest developments in the campaign. All rights reserved. This practice has added pressure on jail deputies and caused problems in the personal lives of some, she said. 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. A donation to The Oaklandside goes beyond the newsroom. Yesenia will be an open, accessible. All registered voters will be mailed a Vote by Mail Ballot for this election. The forum lasted from 1 . If a deputy working one of those assignments goes out on injury or another type of leave, deputies from the jail are used to backfill those positions. The first contested sheriffs race in 36 years comes in the wake of a debate over law enforcements share of general fund dollars and the best ways to spend that money. Pamela Price 53.1%. On Sunday, January 9th, 2022, Indivisible Livermore hosted a forum of the three candidates in the 2022 Primary Election for Alameda County Sheriff-Coroner. JoAnn Walker is one of two candidates running against the incumbent in the race to become Sheriff of Alameda County. 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. The sudden loss of nearly 50 sheriff's deputies comes after former Santa Rita Jail Deputy Devin Williams Jr. was arrested in connection to the murders of a Dublin couple. PUBLISHED: May 10, 2022 at 5:30 a.m. | UPDATED: May 10, 2022 at 5:39 a.m. Yesenia Sanchez is running for Alameda County Sheriff/Coroner. The strategy seems to have worked. Maybe she was holding her tongue and working with the system, and now shes freer to be reform-minded, Contreras said. Your support is powering our newsroom! ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) One of the candidates for Alameda County Sheriff held a meet and greet in Hayward on Saturday. The agency's Chief Executive Officer is Sheriff / Coroner Yesenia L. Sanchez, who is assisted in the operation of the agency by Undersheriff Richard T. Lucia, Assistant Sheriffs Emmanuel Christy and Colby Staysa. "As a 26-year law enforcement veteran, my career has given me keen insight into strategies that work, versus strategies that look good on paper. The other is JoAnn Walker, a 26-year officer with the San Francisco police. While many in law enforcement see it as a symbol of solidarity among first responders, the phrase thin blue line was also popularized by William Parker, Los Angeles police chief in the 1950s who was openly racist. The reporters and editors on The Oaklandside are dedicated to sharing the mic, reporting on systems, not symptoms, and providing you with the information you need to be an informed resident of our city. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. News If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. He spent 12 years working for daily newspapers in the Bay Area, including on the Peninsula and Solano County. Her remarkable finish sends the 16-year sheriff, Ahern, into retirement and propels a political newcomer into the position of leading the East Bays largest law enforcement agency. A northern California sheriff's department stripped 47 deputies - 10% of the force - of their guns and arrest powers because they failed . Looking to unseat the sheriff from within, Sanchez has worked for the sheriff's office since 1997 and has elevated to become commander of the Detention and Corrections Division in 2020. He added, "There has never been a more critical time to have a proven and effective leadership.". Sanchez will be sworn in at the end of Aherns fourth term, sometime in January. If you have the party endorsement, you have that brand, you are running under that brand. (510) 517-3423. Sanchez declared victory in an interview with The Oaklandside on Tuesday evening after most ballots had been counted. Ahern is the clear choice to continue as sheriff. Your support is powering our newsroom! | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. Her list of endorsements includes Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, local, regional, and state Democratic party organizations, labor unions, Oakland councilmembers Noel Gallo, Dan Kalb, Treva Reid, and Loren Taylor, and the majority of the Berkeley and Hayward city councils. Looking for more Livermore stories? Public safety is everyones responsibility, she said at a candidate forum on April 25. "The reality is the sheriff's approach to law enforcement needs to change. The flag with the thin blue line also has a black color for a background behind the stars which represents those that have fallen in the line of duty. The sheriff has the authority to issue or deny concealed-carry permits that allow citizens to carry firearms. "A great deal of work needs to be done to reduce crime while also building public trust effectively," Walker stated. Ive worked a variety of assignments. The duties of the office also go beyond traditional law enforcement work. Alameda County District Attorney. A donation to The Oaklandside goes beyond the newsroom. Uploaded: Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:41 pm Im going to call bullshit on that. Please try again later. 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. (Contributed photo). If elected, she would request independent investigations of in-custody deaths at Santa Rita Jail. Her parents had lost their home to foreclosure and she was couch surfing at relatives homes and helping to support her family. Ahern has endorsements from sheriffs all over California, along with U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., former Gov. Investigations in unincorporated areas where the sheriff has jurisdiction can bring deputies into Oakland to serve search warrants and make arrests. Soon came another deputy sheriff, Capt. It also helps your family, friends and Oakland neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Yesenia Sanchez, voters decided in Tuesday's primary elections. He has programs in place, knowledge of county law enforcement, receiving criminals from the community's, criminal arrest and retention. But she faced great odds tilted in Aherns favor. The advocates who want to have this oversight are the same people who previously said dont spend any money on the sheriffs office, it should be used for social causes. Civilian oversight, he said, would cost $1 million a year. Experience -- or whether a change of leadership perspective is needed -- has emerged among the key themes of the campaign so far, along with public safety, racial justice reform, reducing recidivism and transparency. 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. We do not make any money on contracts, we lose money because the jail budget is funding the people who are not reporting to work, Sanchez told us. Thats the one thing I havent done. In the wake of the arrest . Until now. Obituaries, Send News Tips Follow PleasantonWeekly.com and the Pleasanton Weekly on Twitter @pleasantonnews, Facebook and on Instagram @pleasantonweekly for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. In candidates for alameda county sheriff County to reduce crime while also building public trust effectively, Walker., Sanchezs campaign turned to volunteers in the personal lives of some, she said Oaklanders... 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