The Democratic primary election for Milwaukee County Sheriff is tomorrow, Tuesday.
Incumbent Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke faces challenger Vince Bobot, a former Milwaukee municipal judge and assistant city attorney. Both also ran for mayor of Milwaukee in the last election.
OnMilwaukee.com asked both candidates six questions. Via e-mail, they responded and we present their answers in full.
Why should voters elect you sheriff?
David Clarke: (I’m) qualified, experienced and well trained. This summer I began my 29th consecutive year in law enforcement. I graduated with highest honors from Concordia University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management. I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute, the Secret Service Dignitary Protection program, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Crime Gun Trafficking School and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government program just to name a few.
There have been drastic changes in policing over the last 10 years in law enforcement and my goal has always been through on-going training to stay ahead of the curve so-to-speak in order to be a better public servant.
I’m the only state certified law enforcement officer in this race. There is no experience like having actually performed the job for the last four years like I have. The analogy I like to use is if you had to go in for open-heart surgery, what would your reaction be if the doctor told you that he hasn’t done one before. Wouldn’t you feel more confident if the doctor told you that he has been performing these procedures for the last four years and he reassures you that his experience in performing these tells you that you’ll be fine? Whose experience would you want to rely on?
In 2002 I inherited an organization that was underperforming and had gone complacent. It was an organization with very little discipline; no sense of direction and it was grossly inefficient having become accustomed to multi-million dollar deficits since 1986. When I became sheriff I said I would do three things:
I did what I said I would do and the record shows it. But there is more to be done and that is why I am seeking re-election.
Vince Bobot: The current sheriff's department is greatly in need of improvement. Over the past four years, personal injury accidents are up and response time has fallen by an average of five to seven minutes.
Despite the fact that one-third of all homicides are drug-related, the current sheriff has seen fit to eliminate the department's Metro Drug Unit. He has also discontinued the department's witness protection program.
Clearly what's needed is someone who can manage the department's resources better: someone with the innovative thinking and resolve to do more and to do better.
What are the three most important factors in building a safe community?
Bobot: The prevention and suppression of criminal activity. An active drug enforcement policy. Educated and professional law enforcement personnel.
Clarke: Strong intact families and other caring attachments Value for a solid education with a goal of graduating from college…not high school. Hard work.
Define "success."
Clarke: Simple, doing what I say I’ll do or what I said I’d do. I think, for me, success is measured not in terms of what I have attained, not the position that I hold and not the materialistic things that I have been able to acquire, I think success to me is being satisfied with myself.
Bobot: Making our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.
What's the last movie you saw, and what did you think of it?
Bobot: "Cinderella Man." It was an excellent movie because it demonstrated how hard work and determination can overcome adversity.
Clarke: To be honest, I haven’t seen a movie in a theater in years. But, the last book I read was "Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story."
What's your prediction for upcoming Packers season?
Clarke: 9-7.
Bobot: Packers: 9 wins , 7 losses.
Should Milwaukee County Sheriff be a non-partisan office?
Bobot: No.
Clarke: Absolutely. There is nothing partisan about law enforcement and I refuse to engage in a fruitless discussion about partisan politics as it relates to law enforcement. What’s more important to me than partisan politics is that parents can let their kids play outside in front of there house without the fear of being shot. What’s more important to me than partisan politics is that our seniors can walk down any street in this county, at a time of their choosing, without the fear of being assaulted. What’s more important to me than partisan politics as a law enforcement professional is that families feel secure in their homes and safe in their neighborhoods. I’ve been a sheriff who has chosen your protection over partisan politics. I represent the taxpayer/voters interest in this organization. That’s why they elected me. The deputies union looks for someone that they know they can easily manipulate. They have seen that I don’t fit that description.
Incumbent Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke faces challenger Vince Bobot, a former Milwaukee municipal judge and assistant city attorney. Both also ran for mayor of Milwaukee in the last election.
OnMilwaukee.com asked both candidates six questions. Via e-mail, they responded and we present their answers in full.
Why should voters elect you sheriff?
David Clarke: (I’m) qualified, experienced and well trained. This summer I began my 29th consecutive year in law enforcement. I graduated with highest honors from Concordia University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management. I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute, the Secret Service Dignitary Protection program, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Crime Gun Trafficking School and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government program just to name a few.
There have been drastic changes in policing over the last 10 years in law enforcement and my goal has always been through on-going training to stay ahead of the curve so-to-speak in order to be a better public servant.
I’m the only state certified law enforcement officer in this race. There is no experience like having actually performed the job for the last four years like I have. The analogy I like to use is if you had to go in for open-heart surgery, what would your reaction be if the doctor told you that he hasn’t done one before. Wouldn’t you feel more confident if the doctor told you that he has been performing these procedures for the last four years and he reassures you that his experience in performing these tells you that you’ll be fine? Whose experience would you want to rely on?
In 2002 I inherited an organization that was underperforming and had gone complacent. It was an organization with very little discipline; no sense of direction and it was grossly inefficient having become accustomed to multi-million dollar deficits since 1986. When I became sheriff I said I would do three things:
- Bring my then 25 years of urban policing experience and share it with this organization and become more law enforcement focused. The record shows that I did that.
- Hold everyone in this organization accountable for new behaviors and for results. No longer would people be paid just to come to work. They had to produce, they had to perform.
- Stop this organization from over-spending its budget. For three consecutive years we have not only balanced the budget, we turned surpluses back to the taxpayers. We reduced overtime expenditures since 2002 by 165,000 hours -- $6.4 million in savings. I reduced the size of the command staff from 22 positions down to 15 saving taxpayers $1.5 million per year.
I did what I said I would do and the record shows it. But there is more to be done and that is why I am seeking re-election.
Vince Bobot: The current sheriff's department is greatly in need of improvement. Over the past four years, personal injury accidents are up and response time has fallen by an average of five to seven minutes.
Despite the fact that one-third of all homicides are drug-related, the current sheriff has seen fit to eliminate the department's Metro Drug Unit. He has also discontinued the department's witness protection program.
Clearly what's needed is someone who can manage the department's resources better: someone with the innovative thinking and resolve to do more and to do better.
What are the three most important factors in building a safe community?
Bobot: The prevention and suppression of criminal activity. An active drug enforcement policy. Educated and professional law enforcement personnel.
Clarke: Strong intact families and other caring attachments Value for a solid education with a goal of graduating from college…not high school. Hard work.
Define "success."
Clarke: Simple, doing what I say I’ll do or what I said I’d do. I think, for me, success is measured not in terms of what I have attained, not the position that I hold and not the materialistic things that I have been able to acquire, I think success to me is being satisfied with myself.
Bobot: Making our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.
What's the last movie you saw, and what did you think of it?
Bobot: "Cinderella Man." It was an excellent movie because it demonstrated how hard work and determination can overcome adversity.
Clarke: To be honest, I haven’t seen a movie in a theater in years. But, the last book I read was "Condi: The Condoleezza Rice Story."
What's your prediction for upcoming Packers season?
Clarke: 9-7.
Bobot: Packers: 9 wins , 7 losses.
Should Milwaukee County Sheriff be a non-partisan office?
Bobot: No.
Clarke: Absolutely. There is nothing partisan about law enforcement and I refuse to engage in a fruitless discussion about partisan politics as it relates to law enforcement. What’s more important to me than partisan politics is that parents can let their kids play outside in front of there house without the fear of being shot. What’s more important to me than partisan politics is that our seniors can walk down any street in this county, at a time of their choosing, without the fear of being assaulted. What’s more important to me than partisan politics as a law enforcement professional is that families feel secure in their homes and safe in their neighborhoods. I’ve been a sheriff who has chosen your protection over partisan politics. I represent the taxpayer/voters interest in this organization. That’s why they elected me. The deputies union looks for someone that they know they can easily manipulate. They have seen that I don’t fit that description.
