MENDOCINO RACE HEATS UP OVER POT

Marijuana, that pervasive week synonymous with Mendocino County, has
sprouted as the only issue of note in an unusually quiet three-way race for
sheriff.

It's not that the three veteran law enforcement candidates - sheriff's Sgt.
Ron Caudillo and sheriff's Lieutenants Phil Pintane and Tony Craver -
differ sharply on their views.

All three support use of pot for approved medical uses, and they concur
that as long as marijuana is illegal, local law enforcement must work to
curb its use and production. They're also in agreement that large-scale
commercial pot growers and not "mom-and-pop" operations should be the
target of local and state enforcement efforts.

Their differences center around department attitudes, underscored by the
contents of a controversial grant application for continued state funding
for the county's local anti-marijuana unit. The state grant provides
$250,000 annually, covering the costs of local deputies involved in
anti-marijuana operations and easing overall demands on a 46-deputy
department responsible for providing public safety in one of the state's
geographically largest counties.

The application, written by Caudillo more than a year ago, unexpectedly
surfaced as an issue a few weeks ago during a board debate over continued
county participation in the program. Supervisor Charles Peterson, a
proponent of legalization of marijuana, became irate about statements in
the application citing "pro-marijuana stances of many elected officials"
and "predominant no-growth philosophies of those in political power."

In addition, remarks about the growing role of illegal Mexican aliens and
their work as armed guards for marijuana growers have been publicly labeled
"racist" by local Latino activists.

For Caudillo, who's making his first bid for public office, the flap has
been unnerving. As a native of Potter Valley's Hispanic community, Caudillo
is surprised to find himself being accused of racist comments.

During the past 12 years Caudillo has headed the local anti-marijuana unit,
an especially tough job in a rural county where deep divisions exist over
impacts from the county's biggest cash crop. Illicit marijuana procduction
in Mendocino County is estimated by authorities to be worth five times the
nearly $200 million annual value of the county's legitimate agricultural
production.

Until now, Caudillo has been given high marks for keeping the local pot
unit immune from controversies surrounding the state's handling of a nearly
20-year pot war. As a sheriff's candidate he's earned the endorsement of
many rank-and-file deputies who like the way he manages. He's also backed
by the county's top defense lawyers, who praise his understanding of
complex marijuana issues, and hi skilled handling of major marijuana cases
the unit brings to prosecutors.

Caudillo accepts responsibility for the controversial remarks in the
disputed grant application.

He said they were in response to queries from state officials about why
Mendocino County still needs additional money for its marijuana enforcement
efforts.

"I talked to at least 20 different people within the department and from
outside before I responded. The remarks reflect a consensus about the
realities we face," said Caudillo.

Caudillo said he suspects political posturing is behind the attempt to turn
the year-old document into a campaign issue. He and his supporters note
that Peterson, as chairman of the Board of Supervisors, approved and signed
the application without then making any comments about its contents.

Caudillo acknowledged he's stung by allegations that his written remarks
reflect a departmental bias against Latinos.

"Anyone who knows the work I've done over the past 27 years knows I'm a
very fair, honest and humane person," said Caudillo.

Pintane and Craver concur that Caudillo is a popular, hard-working
department veteran, who is not the racist that some critics have depicted.

Pintane said, however, that he was among readers appalled by the
politically laced comments in the grant application.

"We need to get away from that kind of thing. We need to bring a
professionalism to the department so that won't happen again," he said.

Craver said by grant application standards, he also would be considered
"pro-marijuana."

"In general, I think we're wasting a lot of money on the whole marijuana
issue. It's been illegal for 63 years, but we have more people smoking
marijuana than ever before. All we've succeeded in doing is driving the
price sky high and attracting the criminal element," said Craver.

Craver said he believes "creative solutions" are needed to solve the
marijuana problem, and "not the same old rhetoric."

Beyond the marijuana issue, the three candidates share basic law
enforcement philosophies, although they differ on how to implement them.
They all agree that the Sheriff's Department needs to recapture the respect
of community leaders and the average citizen.

"In this county, people still want to know the sheriff personally. They
want to have access to him. They want to be able to tell their problems to
him face to face," said Caudillo.

Caudillo said individual deputies need to understand "they are there to
deliver a service, and not pass judgement."

Craver said he's trying to avoid rhetoric about what'd needed to regain the
department's creditbility among county residents. "I've had broad
experiences and responsibilities. I know I can do the job," he said.

Craver said he won't make promises he can't keep.

"Other candidates have ideas that look great on paper, but frankly the
proof is in what works," he said.

For Pintane, leadership is the issue.

"The Sheriff's Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the
county. It should also be the most progressive and innovative," he said.

Pintane said the major task a new sheriff faces is reshaping attitudes
about public service within the department.

"Law enforcement should be seen as a protector and not an aggresor. To win
back public confidence, I think that means getting deputies out of their
cars, off their butts and into the community where they belong," said
Pintane.