Dennis Johnson: Carson Sheriff candidates' messages to voters

The Carson City Republicans have offered this month's column to the three candidates for sheriff as their final words to the voters before the primary. Here are their comments:

Ken Furlong

With the primary election season drawing to a close, I would like to thank everyone for sharing in my enthusiasm. Today, your Sheriff's Office enjoys unprecedented law enforcement support, volunteerism, accountability and community connections. I would like to continue this progressive public safety approach.

My administration has many accomplishments. Crime rates have fallen and crime resolution is up nearly threefold. I have implemented aggressive gang, drug and traffic enforcement, even with shrinking budgets. Officers are present in all our schools and interacting with our children. Neighborhood watch areas are encouraged and springing up all over town. Several department programs have received national awards and recognition.

Increased cooperation with area law enforcement agencies has led to incredible partnerships and multi-jurisdictional enforcement activities. With your support on June 8, Carson City will continue to enjoy a safer quality of life and a sheriff committed to our town.

Bob Guimont

I would like to thank everyone for all of their support, prayers and good words. The support has been humbling to say the least. I strongly feel that a police chief or a county sheriff should treat their community as if it was their own front yard. If I awoke one morning to find gang members, drug dealers and thieves in my front yard I would physically clear them out.

I believe that our citizens also have a right to defend their families and their property as well. Carson citizens do not simply expect their safety and quality of life be maintained, they demand it. This time next year our criminals' quality of life will be suffering and the citizens will have a voice and peace of mind.

Bob White

Many times over the past months, Carson City's residents made it clear that gang violence and drugs are their major concern. My proposed "Safe Streets Initiative" is designed to attack the leaders of these groups who victimize Carson City. Using a legal, aggressive, proactive approach, this program will develop strong cases against the responsible individuals and remove them from our community. It is designed for solid results.

The Neighborhood Watch program will be reinvigorated to create a strong link between the community and the Sheriff's Office. Making a specific officer available to the citizens in each beat to help organize, answer questions, set up meetings and disseminate information will make this program a model for other communities.

Finally, the retired annuitant program will allow us to add staffing instead of laying officers off during the hard economic times impacting Carson City.

• Dennis Johnson writes a monthly column on behalf of the Carson City Republican Committee.