As a lifelong resident of San Luis Obispo, I care about our future and our safety. I’m voting for Jerry Lenthall to be our next sheriff. Let me tell you why. Â
 Take a moment and look at his qualifications and accomplishments. Compare them to the other candidates. Jerry’s education and experience is unparalleled. Over the years, he has worked tirelessly for our community. He spearheaded the 211 Emergency Service Center for our county, he was the co-founder of our county Bomb Task Force and SWAT team. More important, consider Jerry’s education with undergraduate and MBA degrees, his credentials as a 33-year veteran of the SLO police department, and consider he’s a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s Specialized Training Programs at Quantico, Virginia.
 He’s the only candidate to have served both as a law enforcement professional and as an elected member of the County Board of Supervisors. That hands-on experience gives him a unique point of view for dealing effectively with the problems faced by our sheriff’s department. But what I appreciate most is that he’s not beholden to special interest agendas. That’s why I’m voting for Jerry Lenthall for sheriff on June 8.Â
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 6, 2010.