After the League of Women’s Voters event on Lopez, I’m voting for Sheriff Rob Nou.
I attend these events to learn about our candidates. Sheriff Nou’s opponent, Mr. Krebs, used his time employing the playbook of character assassination. He complained about an investigation of a deputy’s conduct taking too long. Apparently, this candidate feels the way to investigate is fast, don’t get all the facts and move on.
He mentioned an overwhelming endorsement from the Sheriff’s guild, the union representing the deputies in contract negotiations and disciplinary actions. He didn’t mention that just prior to receiving this support he was the guild president; wonder why he wants to conclude investigations of officer conduct quickly?
My grandfather called this hiring the fox to guard the henhouse.
I want a sheriff who holds law enforcement professionals accountable for their actions; not someone beholding to the guild.
Mr. Krebs used scare tactics saying the citizens of Lopez are unsafe without a deputy on Lopez 24 hours a day, every day, and complained that one of the deputies assigned to Lopez Island is a reserve in the Army and gone one week of the month. He praised this deputy for his service to country but lambasted the sheriff for allowing this practice. I have lived on Lopez 6.5 years, never had 24-hour coverage and I have never felt unsafe. I work in public safety, when we need law enforcement help, deputies arrive.
Mr. Krebs spoke about low morale of the department and intimated that deputies who recently left Lopez, left due to low morale. Nothing is further from the truth. I knew both and they left because of family issues. Sheriff Nou responded to this attack with a positive statement about families come first.
The choice for me is clear. Vote for a man who works for our community, holds officers accountable, requires investigations to be thorough, worked as a police chief for eight years and in law enforcement for 33 years, been a fantastic partner with Lopez public safety agencies and puts the citizens who elected him first. I urge you to retain and vote for Sheriff Rob Nou, he works for us.
Jim Ghiglione/Lopez Island
