Jack and I have been friends for years and I actually feel sad for him, since he will badly lose this election and will likely have to go hat in hand for a job in a tough economy. I’ve done my research on all the candidates for Sheriff and I’ve even read the 496 page investigation that resulted in Jack McClaren’s firing.
During Jack’s rush to attack me, he forgot to mention he personally solicited me for my endorsement for his campaign for Sheriff earlier this year, prior to Sheriff Paul deciding to run for re-election instead of Congress. I seemed great to him then, when Jack offered me any position I requested once he’s elected Sheriff. I’m retired and not looking for a job, I only want to volunteer and help solve some of the cold cases with my years of experience as a criminal investigator. Jack is prematurely trying to cash his lottery ticket prior to drawing the winning numbers. He shouldn’t be promising jobs to all his campaign workers. This is the old Pinal County way of buying support and this practice needs to remain in our past.
Every candidate has issues. Bearup declared bankruptcy, was admonished by a bankrupcy judge for trying to conceal nearly $500k in assets, fired from his HUD job and gave wedding nupuals in prison to a well-known white supremacist who was convicted with Bearup's son for a racially motivated murder. Arnson has been fired twice as much as Jack McClaren. Arnson was fired for sexual harassment in Buckeye PD and just recently in Gila River. McClaren was fired for failure to be truthful in the course of an official internal investigation, engaged in conduct on duty that is of such a nature it would bring discredit to the county, improper conduct, employee failed to follow reasonable direction for a supervisor, failure to comply with “command responsibilities,” five counts of violating “Code of Ethics,” and two counts of violating “confidentiality.” The county manager signed McClaren’s termination letter and even went so far as to ban Jack from ever being rehired by Pinal County in any county position, not just in law enforcement.
The fact that the Sheriff is gay has nothing to do with the good job he’s done as our Sheriff, yet Jack McClaren and others can’t stop making hate filled personal attacks. I’m sick of it and it’s beneath candidates for public office. The irony in McClaren’s attacks on the Sheriff is shocking. Jack sits in judgment of Sheriff Paul for personal issues, yet McClaren himself was fired from the Sheriff’s Office and barred from ever being hired again in Pinal County.
Charlie Barber, retired and NOT looking for a job.
