She speaks to more accountability issues, having the sheriff be not so militaristic. 201,827 votes. Alameda County has enough challenges with professionally managed and efficient DA's and sheriff's offices, let alone what they could become with newbies with dramatically different philosophies. With 46.80%, Alameda County Sheriff's Office Cmdr. Credit: Courtesy of Yesenia Sanchez, Gregory Ahern, and JoAnn Walker Sign up for The Oaklandside's free daily newsletter. The three candidates are running to lead an office that has far-reaching and wide-ranging responsibilities, a $550 million budget, and 1,000 sworn deputies and professional staff. The forum lasted from 1 . Listen to this article. The Oral Board Interview is administered by Alameda County Human Resources Services and is conducted by a panel consisting of Sheriff's Office sworn personnel. 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Issues at the jail haven't kept the sheriff from garnering support. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Sign up for our. Sponsored content Despite emails sent over the past week to her campaign account, her campaign treasurer listed on campaign disclosure forms, and a message sent through Twitter, the Walker campaign did not respond. 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. In those times, the countys top cop can make emergency declarations and seek disaster funding through the state. 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. I am taking a big step of faith by entering this race that typically is uncontested. Your support is powering our newsroom! 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. The other is JoAnn Walker, a 26-year officer with the San Francisco police. Uploaded: Thu, May 19, 2022, 5:41 pm Outspent by Ahern by a nearly 3-to-1 margin, Sanchezs campaign turned to volunteers in the final weeks before election day. 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. | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. "The reality is the sheriff's approach to law enforcement needs to change. Walker acknowledges she lacks the administrative experience of her opponents but said as a longtime law enforcement officer in San Francisco she knows what it takes to build trust with residents and change the culture within an office. Marty Neideffer. In the past few weeks, the California Real Estate Political Action Committee contributed $10,000 to the sheriff's campaign, while the California . 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. It is not easy. Your donation makes this and all our other local reporting possible. I grew up in the ranks and Ive treated people the same way, no matter where I was assigned. | 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government | | Get tickets to Culture Makers, {{#label}}{{label}}: {{/label}}{{message}}. I represent the change Alameda County needs. Mobile site. The lawsuit settlement followed a highly critical report by the U.S. Justice Department which found that Alameda Countys mental health care system is unconstitutional and that Santa Rita Jail is overcrowded, understaffed, and endangers detainees. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. Running against her boss was not an easy decision, she said, and one she came to after talking it over with her family and hearing from younger deputies who are waiting for a change., We need to remove this us vs. them mentality, Sanchez said. I knew this was a really good opportunity to force a runoff or a win outright, Kusiak said. 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. He said the majority of constituents in unincorporated areas where the sheriffs office patrols had not complained about Aherns effectiveness. The current sheriff, she said, has too much influence over the disciplinary process. 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. "A great deal of work needs to be done to reduce crime while also building public trust effectively," Walker stated. 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. With Yesenia Sanchez's declared victory in the Alameda County sheriff's race, the Bay Area now appears to poised to see two Latinas at the top of county law enforcement agencies. He also placed importance on his current role as the director of emergency servicescoordinating responses to wildfires and other disastersfor a region that covers the Bay Area and a large swath of Northern California. The voter registration deadline is 15 days before the election, and early voting begins May 9. Ahern said hes brought in $160 million in revenue through contracts to provide deputies for law enforcement services in the city of Dublin, at the Oakland airport, and on AC Transit buses and property, and by charging the U.S. This candidate profile is based on statements Walker has made at candidate forums and on her campaign website. We need more community input and engagement, and transparency and accountability need to be priorities," Sanchez, a Livermore resident, told the Weekly.Re-entry support for county jail inmates is vital toward helping avert recidivism and reduce crime overall, according to Sanchez. The fact that investigations are influenced by top leadership is not the right way to do things and that is something I will change, Sanchez said. That is something I will continue to do as sheriff, treat people with respect regardless of what rank they hold or whatever environment they grew up in.. Updated: Mon, May 23, 2022, 2:02 pm Contact: Alameda County Registrar of Voters (510) 272-6933. It also helps your family, friends and Oakland neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Jerry Brown. 63% of Oaklanders are unhappy with city government, placed the jail under federal court supervision, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Time to read: about 4 minutes, The candidates for county sheriff-coroner are (from left) incumbent Greg Ahern and challengers Yesenia Sanchez and JoAnn Walker. Profile Endorsed by She first worked as a technician in North County Jail in Oakland, then spent eight years as a deputy on patrol, at the jail, and as an investigator before becoming a sergeant. But she faced great odds tilted in Aherns favor. For the position of sheriff, challenger Yesenia Sanchez leads at 46.80% ahead of her boss, incumbent Sheriff Greg Ahern at 36.40% in second place, as the results stood at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. If you value what you get from The Oaklandside, please join us with a tax-deductible donation today so we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. They can assist in police work, including using the offices two planes and helicopter to conduct surveillance in Oakland. "The Alameda County Sheriffs Department is charged with a complex balance of responsibility interwoven into the fabric of our communities' daily lives," she said, adding: "It is not lost on me how momentous it is that I -- a Black woman -- have taken on the charge to fix and reform how law enforcement services are delivered in Alameda County. Thank you. Alameda County District Attorney. Please try again later. The sheriff was above retirement age and there were questions over whether he might step aside. The strategy seems to have worked. It also helps your family, friends and Oakland neighbors have access to reliable, independent reporting. Too much emphasis has been placed on staffing contract serviceslike at the airport and AC Transit patrolat the expense of staffing Santa Rita Jail. Can Oakland become a filmmaking hub? Racial Justice in Law Enforcement. Maybe she was holding her tongue and working with the system, and now shes freer to be reform-minded, Contreras said. Oakland residents may be more familiar with the Oakland Police Department, but a significant share of the sheriffs offices work happens in Oakland, the largest city in Alameda County. Sanchez held a meet and greet at The Dirty Bird Lounge in downtown Hayward Saturday. 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. "I am committed to leading the Alameda County Sheriff's Office with the utmost integrity, serving the community equitably and inclusively, and making sure the Agency ensures safety in the community by investing in it," she added, on her campaign website.The other challenger is Walker, a longtime county resident whose law enforcement experience has been across the Bay as an officer with the San Francisco Police Department. The sheriff also has the power to form a committee to determine the cause and manner of death in deaths caused by police officers or while in police custody. Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Oakland, California. CompareComparing. Its been a roller coaster, she said. Candidate - Alameda County Sheriff 2022 Oakland, CA. 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 . Kyoko Takayama 19 subscribers Livermore Indivisible ( https://livermoreindivisible.org) presented the forum featuring the three candidates for Alameda County Sheriff - Gregory Ahern, Yesenia. The candidates are GREGORY J. AHERN, Incumbent, YESENIA SANCHEZ, Alameda County Sheriff Commander, and JOANN WALKER, Police Officer / Educator. Walker is running as a progressive alternative to Sheriff Ahern and promises to address the high number of in-custody death at the county jail, increase transparency around the sheriffs budget, and cut the backlog of untested rape kits. In one of the most stunning political upsets in Alameda Countys recent political history, Sanchez defeated Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary. Blogs Stay informed on important crime news. Yesenia Sanchez wants to train inmates, rehabilitate, etc., etc. Signature in Lieu Issue Date: Signature in Lieu File Date: 01/23/2018. "Compare that to the other candidates, and I think (voters) would see that I'd be the best choice to be sheriff for the next four years. Sanchez will be sworn in at the end of Aherns fourth term, sometime in January. In 2022, Ballotpedia covered the following local elections in this state: Anaheim, California - Mayor and city council. 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 . Whoever is elected to the seat will be making history - all four candidates are Black, and Alameda County has never had a Black district attorney. With all . 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. 2023 PleasantonWeekly.com. Her supporters had been trying to recruit someone to run against Ahern for years, but no one stepped up, Sanchez said. Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed. DanvilleSanRamon.com, About Us In 2009, his budget was slashed $21.7 million, which has had a lasting effect on services provided at Santa Rita Jail and elsewhere. Thats the one thing I havent done. Change must be voted in. Promotions Sheriff Gregory J. Ahern, who has held the office since the previous sheriff retired and endorsed him in 2006, faces two challengers on the June 7 primary ballot: Alameda Sheriffs Commander Yesenia Sanchez and San Francisco police Officer JoAnn Walker. Learn more. Home & Real Estate Alameda County Sheriff's Commander Yesenia Sanchez (pictured at left) and San Francisco police Officer JoAnn Walker (pictured at right) are running against Sheriff Gregory Ahern in the June 7 primary election. ""Provided by Terry Wiley campaign; Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle; Provided by Seth. Yesenia Sanchez for Alameda County Sheriff 2022 Yesenia is a 24 year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office who wants to make transformational change through community engagement and investment, rehabilitation of the jail population, and a focus on accountability. He joined the Bay Area News Group in 2012 where he covered a variety of beats, most recently as a senior breaking news reporter. Contact Us Walker, a Hayward resident, has worked as a San Francisco police officer for 26 years in various capacities including as an academy instructor, terrorism liason officer, and community relations liaison. A donation to The Oaklandside goes beyond the newsroom. The sheriffs cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would only happen if there were a criminal warrant for someone signed by a judge, she said. For the first time in decades, there is a competitive race for the powerful position of Alameda sheriff, the countys top cop. Then over the past two decades, she rose through the ranks of the sheriffs office to become the commander of Santa Rita Jail. PR MediaRelease 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. 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. At that time, Sanchez had filed election paperwork to run and set up a campaign website. Oracle Park beer to drop at this price for 2023 season, Curry injury update: Superstar making good progress, Over 90 lbs of fentanyl recovered in Alameda County, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, Accused Martinez mail truck robber facing charges, Overturned big rig shuts down traffic on in San Mateo, Berkeley car thieves targeting these 2 vehicles, Montgomery High student fatally stabbed in art class, Bay Bridge lights set to go dark in just days, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. A donation to The Oaklandside goes beyond the newsroom. Alameda County sheriff election: Yesenia Sanchez defeats Gregory Ahern City Hall & Policing How Yesenia Sanchez toppled incumbent Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern Sanchez, a sheriff's commander, won 52% of the vote, clinching the primary and sending Ahern into retirement. Candidates Election Information Information for Past, Current, and Future Elections Select an Election June 29, 2021 - 18th Assembly District Special Primary Election DISCLAIMER: Information on this list is current as of the date it was posted. With introspection, hard work and cooperation, we can make the needed changes at the Alameda County Sheriffs Department," she states on her campaign website. Ive worked almost every division so I definitely know where to start on the improvements and I can hit the ground running.. "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 issues that confronted the sheriff and his department have come home to roost, Miley said. JoAnn Walker, First Black Woman Candidate for Alameda County Sheriff In 2022, for the first time since 1986, Alameda County will have a choice of who to elect to be the Sheriff. When an allegation is brought against a deputy, she said top-level staff decide whether internal affairs should investigate. Theres already oversight, he said. Those are kind of issues that affect the Latinos, those of us who are really concerned with law enforcement accountability.. 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. There are also places in Oakland where the sheriff does have direct jurisdiction. It takes a deputy or police officer to contest a sheriff, someone who also lives in the county, and that often means an underling, fringe candidate, or no one at all. You can register here. It was the countys first contested sheriffs election since 1986. Alameda County Sheriff/Coroner Gregory Ahern's support has come from people in law enforcement, real estate, and car dealership owners, who have donated tens of thousands of dollars to Ahern. Your support is powering our newsroom! She also wants to review the screening and background process for hiring new deputies and make changes to the questions asked during oral boards, with an emphasis on a community policing model and focus on implicit and explicit bias. We amplify community voices, share the power of real information, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Your donation goes beyond supporting our journalism. We amplify community voices, share information resources, and investigate systems, not just symptoms. Sanchez is in favor of establishing a civilian oversight board for the sheriffs office and promises to end cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Final Filing Date: March 27, 2023. . 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. Sanchez, a sheriffs commander, won 52% of the vote, clinching the primary and sending Ahern into retirement. If elected probably would not submit to interviews, this in itself indicates lack of transparency. Sanchez says her candidacy will focus on rehabilitation and job training for incarcerated people, racial justice in law enforcement, holding the sheriffs office accountable and connecting with people. One opponent is Yesenia Sanchez, a commander in the sheriffs office. Alameda County. "I will work to repair and build trust with marginalized communities, including immigrant and undocumented communities, to ensure they are provided with equitable services regardless of citizenship status. ""The Alameda County Sheriffs Department is charged with a complex balance of responsibility interwoven into the fabric of our communities' daily lives," she said, adding:"It is not lost on me how momentous it is that I -- a Black woman -- have taken on the charge to fix and reform how law enforcement services are delivered in Alameda County. He was part of the East Bay Times staff honored with the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for coverage of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire. 271, a bill that aimed to dramatically lower the eligibility requirements so that any registered voter could run. Until now. She disagrees with Ahern on whether the outside contracts, which include providing police services for Dublin, actually bring in revenue. During his time at BANG, DeBolt covered Oakland City Hall, the Raiders stadium saga and the As search for a new ballpark, as well as the Oakland Police Department and police reform efforts. Sheriff commanders, who run search-and-rescue and dive teams, the crime lab, the gun range, and a regional training center, where current officers train, all work under the sheriff. Former Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, who endorsed Ahern, is by no means a criminal justice reform advocate, but even he was not surprised by the election outcome. 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. He told The Oaklandside that it wasnt the role of the Board of Supervisors to defund the police and that the voters would ultimately decide who they wanted to run the sheriffs office. Why Oaklanders should care about the countys top seat, and whos running. Please try again later. Marshals for housing people the federal agency has arrested at the county jail. 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. Contributed photos. "I am committed to leading the Alameda County Sheriff's Office with the utmost integrity, serving the community equitably and inclusively, and making sure the Agency ensures safety in the community by investing in it," she added, on her campaign website. 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. Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. I am ready to declare victory.. In January 2021, I joined JoAnn Walker who is a candidate for Alameda County Sheriff on our criminal justice reform slate. The four candidates vying to replace Nancy O'Malley all have impressive resumes and a commitment to reform. Community. Bakersfield, California - City council. And if you carry that brand, it tells people a lot about who you are, Ross said. He is an opponent of establishing civilian oversight of his office, an idea that is currently being explored by the Board of Supervisors and community groups. Among her supporters are fellow colleagues from the county sheriffs office. She worked three jobs at a used car dealership, the Oakland airport, and McDonalds. And she wants to ensure that the sheriffs office isnt participating in the enforcement of immigration law, including deportations, except in very limited circumstances. 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. The results of the statewide primary showed party endorsements were key and Sanchez picked up key endorsements from numerous elected officials and community leaders throughout the county, said political consultant Jim Ross. It requires the change agent to have a different vision, Walker said at a League of Women Voters forum last month. Since most small police agencies do not have their own training academies, the sheriffs office trains recruits who go on to work as police officers throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. I started off with nothing and was a civilian. When you are in these positions you gotta show that you are in touch, that you have the pulse of the people you represent, De La Fuente said. He has programs in place, knowledge of county law enforcement, receiving criminals from the community's, criminal arrest and retention. On Tuesday evening, Yesenia Sanchez was still absorbing her stunning victory in the Alameda Countys sheriffs election. We have listed them in alphabetical order. In an interview with The Oaklandside last week, Mariano Contreras, an Oakland resident and member of the Latino Taskforce said that over the past few months Sanchez emerged with a platform offering reformist goals, compared to Aherns conservative law-and-order messaging. There has never been rehabilitative ERA in American corrections. A front row seat to local high school sports. Due to budget constraints, Ahern said hes looked elsewhere to ensure the office avoids layoffsstaffing accounts for about 70% of the budget. She calls on her range of assignments while with the SFPD on topics such as terrorism, community relations, field training, peer support counseling, academy instruction, hate crimes, tactical communications, and crisis support and suicide prevention. The other challenger is Walker, a longtime county resident whose law enforcement experience has been across the Bay as an officer with the San Francisco Police Department. At two early forums, audience members showed great interest in the candidates' opinion of Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, and whether they would advocate, for example, using the board's . "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.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. There was just such a clear contrast between Sanchez and Ahern, Ross said. It is uncomfortable. Walkers endorsements include San Leandro Vice Mayor Victor Aguilar Jr., former Fremont Councilmember Vinnie Bacon, Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb, Fremont Councilmember Jenny Kassan, and the Wellstone Democratic Club. Two shot, one killed in East Oakland Wednesday, College, police co-sponsor catalytic converter etching, Father and son sentenced to 12 years for homicide, Antioch PD search for woman linked to armed robbery, Purdy elbow surgery could happen next week, Jake Paul takes first boxing defeat by split decision. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Peter Yuan Liu (Nonpartisan) Campaign themes 2022 Ballotpedia survey responses For . Were journalists for Oakland.