Sheriff Laurie Smith always tells me she has the best job in the world, so why would she ever run for mayor of San Jose? It is hard to argue with logic like that—which is one reason she would make a great mayor. Smith, who lives in San Jose, is the most popular public figure in county government for good reason.
Under her leadership, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has become recognized nationally as a preeminent law enforcement agency. Training has improved, lethal force is under-utilized and considered a last resort. And unlike her immediate predecessors, Smith generally gets along with members of the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator, the County Counsel and most other public officials. She is honest, accessible, community oriented, bipartisan, a great administrator, tough on crime and generally a very likable person.
Smith has the backs of her employees and her loyalty to her people can never be questioned, which is why she is endorsed by the Deputy Sheriff’s Association and her supporters cross all party lines. She is a tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence and children throughout the community.
Oh, and in the words of the late Steve Jobs, one last thing—she is reasonable and great with people, a skill sorely lacking in some politicians.
But Smith won’t run in 2014 because she already has the greatest job in the world. Maybe we could get her to be mayor and chief of police of San Jose. Then she could rebuild the image of that department, while serving as mayor. It would even save taxpayers money. Just a thought.
Rich Robinson is a principal in Robinson Communications, a political consulting firm.
Your starting to sound like PO and are way off base. She can be one or the other but not both mayor and Chief of Police. And you forgot to say as Sheriff she is a elected official. Don’t post silly articles just to see your name in print.
Perhaps you should solicit the unvarnished opinions of the deputies she leads first. Provided they can be anonymous, I suspect you might change your opinion.
Clearly you are out of touch,
Yes he is, but he’s also her campaign consultant!
I am talking about the deputies she leads. Ask them to give you a true opinion about her and you would not hear flattering opinions.
Sorry Rich but I couldn’t disagree with you more! If Smith became Mayor of San Jose, or our Chief of Police, I’d move out of San Jose!
Rich yur weak. I stated facts, albeit not in line with your goals and you deleted them. Coward.
Funny though, no else cares enough to post hahahahahaha
I cared enough and will attempt to repost something for the third time:
Laurie elected mayor might produce immediate savings of at least $161k is she were to layoff Jose Salcido and act as her own law enforcement advisor.
$30k worth of savings would be the taxpayer funded pension contribution.
For the record I delete no one. As for deputies, you can always find disgruntled employees. Laurie has high standards miscreants, lazy folks, fakers and feather bedders need not apply—she will make your life miserable.
I think Smith should be ashamed of throwing DA Carr under the bus over the De Anza Rape case.
I do however commend her and DA Rosen for standing their ground against the majority of the County Board of Supervisors.
http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_19227120?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com
Bad choice. She also has a terrible environmental record.
SJI,
Why wasn’t my post to Meyer Weed added?
Hi Kathleen,
We’ve been having some issues with comments this week. Our IT team is on it.
Thanks,
JK
Thanks for letting me know. Just tell me when I can re-send it.
I think it should be working now. Thanks.
Josh,
I re-sent it but don’t see my post.
Hi Kathleen,
I believe the problem is officially fixed now. Please try one more time.
Thanks,
JK
Josh said: “We’ve been having some issues with comments this week. Our IT team is on it”.
Thanks,
JK
Yeah the crack SJI IT team will find that the “Delete button” on the SJI keyboard is stuck down, deleting only certain commenter posts.
It’s possible your comments were never received. Feel free to submit them again. The site appears to be working properly now. It’s always helpful to include an email address, because we will try to communicate with readers when a post is flagged. Thanks.
That I have never had any of my posts deleted until I responded three times to Rich Robinson’s articles and never saw them posted. Oh, must have been a technical issue I’m sure….
It’s possible your comments were never received. Feel free to submit them again. The site appears to be working properly now. It’s always helpful to include an email address, because we will try to communicate with readers when a post is flagged. Thanks.
It Sure Was Coincidental, hmmmm ? Yeah, I sent over 10 posts well within the rules and not one of them were posted as the posts opposed the views of SJI’s authors and were telling the truth about the blogged story. I really think someone has an itchy “delete” finger at SJI…
My understanding is that the Sheriff’s department was a dying animal in the 1980’s and 1990’s. It has only been the last few years they’ve caught up to the rest of the law enforcement departments in this county. I see the deputies every day drive through my neighborhood. They aren’t very friendly nor do they look very professional. Drive around while on their cell phones and being overweight. They do not at all give off an air of confidence.
Also, what’s with the sheriff herself? I watched the news in my office during the Cupertino massacre weeks ago. For an executive the sheriff dressed like a vagrant. Cheesy tank top, construction worker pants (atleast 3 sizes too small for her pot belly) and a Costco rain coat. Don’t they wear uniforms? Why doesn’t she? Whenever I see SJPD or SFPD or Oakland’s chief they look like a boss, suits or uniforms. Why can’t she?
While we are talking about uniforms, why do they still dress like boy scouts? Other counties have modernized why havent we?
Statistically speakIng, they make less arrests than other police do. How is that leadership? Sounds more like another average manager to me. Nothing special.