Former Police Chief Carlos Leon’s campaign for sheriff against his successor, immediate past Chief Richard Wiles, got “a shot in the arm” with the announcement of several endorsements, Leon said Tuesday.

The endorsements come from four former candidates for sheriff – Maria Guadalupe Dempsey, Jose Ramirez, Mary Lou Carrillo and Marvin Ryals – and the firefighters, sheriff and police associations, Leon said. He made the announcement on Barbara Perez’s radio show on KHRO 1650 AM.

Later, he said in an interview with NPT that he and Wiles addressed the associations’ boards, which voted to endorse Leon.

Leon said the Sheriffs Officers Association then had a vote of its membership, which chose him.

“I have other endorsements, but this is very important because it carries with it the sense of the men and women of public safety,” Leon said. “They know what I accomplished and they feel very confident I can lead that department into the future.”

Ryals, a sheriff’s department lieutenant, said he didn’t know the two candidates well, “but on the campaign trail I got to know each of them a little better, and I just think that Mr. Leon is a little more transparent than Wiles, I think his family values and ethics are what's important, I think he would just be better for the department.”

NPT was unable to reach Wiles for comment.

The candidates appear at 7 p.m. tonight, along with other runoff candidates, at the East Side Civic Association, at the Eastside Senior Center, 3200 Fierro.