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Sheriff’s race pits incumbent, familiar foe

Timothy Shotwell challenged Garry Lucas 4 years ago as well

By Bob Albrecht
Published: October 18, 2010, 12:00am
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Garry Lucas
Garry Lucas Photo Gallery

Garry Lucas

o Age: 67.

o Residence: Vancouver.

o Experience: 20 years as Clark County Sheriff, and more than 40 years total with the department.

o Key issues: Experienced leadership in difficult economic times, increasing efficiency and continuing to emphasize community policing.

o Money raised: $8,147.

o Quote: “If you look at experience, background, education … I think the record stands for itself.”

Timothy Shotwell

o Age: 60.

o Residence: Vancouver.

o Experience: President of the jail custody officers guild since 2008; he’s worked at the department for about 13 years.

Garry Lucas

o Age: 67.

o Residence: Vancouver.

o Experience: 20 years as Clark County Sheriff, and more than 40 years total with the department.

o Key issues: Experienced leadership in difficult economic times, increasing efficiency and continuing to emphasize community policing.

o Money raised: $8,147.

o Quote: "If you look at experience, background, education ... I think the record stands for itself."

Timothy Shotwell

o Age: 60.

o Residence: Vancouver.

o Experience: President of the jail custody officers guild since 2008; he's worked at the department for about 13 years.

o Key issues: Lucas has been running the department on "autopilot" for the last eight years; the sheriff's office needs a fresh approach.

o Money raised: $4,985.

o Quote: "If you can list five things Garry Lucas has done in the last five years, vote for Garry Lucas. If you can't, I'll show you five things in five years. I'll show you more than that."

o Key issues: Lucas has been running the department on “autopilot” for the last eight years; the sheriff’s office needs a fresh approach.

o Money raised: $4,985.

o Quote: “If you can list five things Garry Lucas has done in the last five years, vote for Garry Lucas. If you can’t, I’ll show you five things in five years. I’ll show you more than that.”

In a repeat of four years ago, Timothy Shotwell is challenging a longtime incumbent he alleges is “checked out.”

It didn’t work before. And if Shotwell’s renewed bid to unseat Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas is to end differently this time around, he’s got work to do. Lucas outpolled Shotwell by 23 percentage points in the August primary.

In a way, Shotwell admits, the electorate had it right.

“He knows the ropes like nobody else,” said Shotwell, “but it’s important that you’re there to run the department. I think somebody should be there.”

Shotwell, a Democrat, bills himself as the anti-Lucas, promising an open-door policy, a department centered on “communication, communication, communication.”

“I believe everyone at the sheriff’s office is scared to death of Garry Lucas,” Shotwell said.

The challenger’s attacks on Lucas’ approachability are swatted back forcefully by the sheriff himself and his elections to the presidency of both the Vancouver Sunrise Rotary and the Clark County Genealogical Society.

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Lucas, a Republican, calls the charges a “red herring” — an attempt by his opponent to shift attention from what should define the election: his record and résumé versus Shotwell’s lack thereof.

“If you look at experience, background, education. … I think the record stands for itself,” Lucas said.

Lucas started with the department more than 40 years ago and ascended the ranks, culminating in his 1990 election. He is a member of numerous boards and committees, and is a former chairman of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Many of his committee posts require his presence at monthly meetings, Lucas said.

“Am I not working when I’m serving at those meetings?” Lucas asked, then answered: “Whether my car is in my parking spot has no relevance to whether I’m working or not. (Shotwell has) yet to back up his allegations with any kind of proof at all.”

Lucas predicts the next four years will continue to be characterized by a poor economy, and said it’s vital to have an experienced leader at the department’s helm.

“Again, I would point to experience managing a $50 million budget during difficult times,” Lucas said.

The sheriff intends to increase efficiency to maintain services, and continue a long-standing emphasis on “community policing,” a philosophy that puts deputies on the road and interacting with the public.

Lucas leads the effort, making approximately 200 traffic stops a year.

“I love what I do,” Lucas said. “I love the people I do it with, and the people I do it for.”

Department on ‘autopilot’

Shotwell, president of the jail custody officers’ guild, has worked in the department more than a decade following a 22-year career in the military. He rose to the rank of sergeant, first class, in the Army.

He proudly points out that a year after Lucas started in the sheriff’s office (1968), he was fighting in Vietnam.

The department has been on “autopilot” for at least eight years, according to Shotwell, who said problems during that time period have included:

• Poor communication between administrators and unions.

• A lack of investigation into problems treating mentally ill inmates, as detailed in an independent 2009 report on the jail’s clinic.

• Possible “racial overtones” in the firing last year of Shotwell’s friend, former jail Cmdr. Cliff Evelyn, who is black, after accusations of sexual harassment.

A private consultant’s study in 2006 into claims of unfair treatment found no evidence of racial discrimination.

As for new policies, Shotwell said he would look to adopt an alternative incarceration program for nonviolent offenders that would lower recidivism and ease strain on the county jail. Such programs treat inmates for drug and alcohol addiction, and attempt to address behavioral issues that lead to crimes. Both Shotwell and Lucas have said they believe a new jail should be built within 10 years.

Shotwell said he’s printed 60,000 brochures touting his candidacy, and he’s delivering many of them as part of a door-to-door campaign.

When he meets with voters, he issues a challenge and a pledge: “If you can list five things Garry Lucas has done in the last five years, vote for Garry Lucas. If you can’t, I’ll show you five things in five years. I’ll show you more than that.”

Both men project sincere confidence in their prospects with three weeks remaining until the Nov. 2 election.

“I honestly believe I can win,” Shotwell said.

Said Lucas: “I feel honored by the 20 years the people of this county have entrusted me. For me, it really is a trust. I look forward to the next four.”

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