This editoral appeared in the Gazette-Times on June 1st, 2006.

Deputies’ support for Burright clear

The recent letter from Sgt. Scott Jackson regarding the race for sheriff needs to be addressed. His muddled representation of the significance of the Benton County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (BCDSA) vote endorsing Jack Burright has amazed me, especially since he was a member and steward of the association and should know the difference between the sheriff’s office as a whole and those represented by the Benton County Deputy Sheriff’s Association

The sheriff’s office is made up of two labor groups plus those individuals who are not represented. The largest represented labor group, Benton County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, has backed a candidate for sheriff. The BCDSA represents about 40 employees of the sheriff’s office.

During an off-site meeting, the association voted 27-2 to back a specific candidate, Sgt. Jack Burright. No matter how you do the math, that represents a 65 percent endorsement of the association membership, and a 93 percent endorsement of those present at the meeting.

For any election by the association — or any election, for that matter — a 65 percent-plus turnout is amazing, especially when attendance to a meeting cannot be mandated. This vote, and therefore the backing of the deputy sheriff’s association for Jack Burright is significant and meaningful in a number of ways and should not be dismissed, as it has been by Undersheriff Diana Simpson and her supporters.

Dan Eastham

BCSO (Retired)

Corvallis