Candidates: George Rodrigues Stoltz, Richard D. Wiles
Salary and Benefits: A Sheriff earns a base salary of upto $133,283.
Term: The sheriff is elected for a four-year term.
George Rodrigues Stoltz
Age: 42
Website: www.georgestoltz.com
Residence: Mission Valley
Occupation: Law Enforcement Official
Education: Graduate of Ysleta High School “tribe of 1984”, Attended El Paso Community College, Attended Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Majored in Criminal Justice and was a member of the LOBO football team. Continuing education with American Military University.
Relevant Experience: Age of 17 chose to Serve Country with the United States Marine Corp reserve. I would drive the 225 miles on the weekends to train while still attending Sul Ross State University. For the next 18 years I worked in different functions within the Police Department. As the Officer in Charge I was responsible for multiple inspections by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. In early 2007 I believed my disciplined military background and law enforcement training along with 16 years of community service, was instrumental in being selected by the Department of State and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. After accepting a contract I would be the Officer in Charge and responsible for the training of 1,653 Iraqi Police Officers. Those Officers helped protect the 450,000 residents of the City of Ramadi. I would attain the rank of Forward Operating Base Commander, and a rating of G.S. 13. I provided training at all levels of police training to include the Officer Advanced course given to senior ranking Iraqi Colonel’s.
The department is losing some of its long-time leadership. Do you view this as a positive or negative for the department? How much does that represent an opportunity to change the organization, and how much does it represent the loss of institutional memory? I have great respect for the Sheriff Department as it is. I believe in respecting those that served us. I believe Sheriff Leo Samaniego legacy will be in line with the Great Don Haskins. I am prepared to select the best persons for the positions that are opened.
Does the sheriff ‘s department need a civilian review board? The amount of Deputies complaints compared to Police Officers complaints is rather low. I believe the leadership in the Sheriff’s Department had led them in a positive direction and they did not have the same problems that surfaced with discrimination lawsuits and courts of inquiries in the El Paso Police Department.
What type of community outreach does the department have, and what would you change? The Sheriff Department has the neighborhood watch program, which I would enhance with a resident deputy program. The program would entail deputies who would actually reside in the outlying communities and address the specific needs of each different community.
Describe your position on immigration enforcement. After spending the last eighteen months in Iraq, a Country that did not have civil rights. I am very protective of a person’s civil rights. All persons inside of the United States have civil rights and their rights will not be violated. I can further assure that the Deputies will enforce all Local, State and Federal laws that they are under oath to enforce. Victims of crimes will be treated as victims and should not have fear of the Deputies who are also sworn to protect.
If state law permitted it, would you favor or disfavor consolidation with the El Paso Police Department? I am not in favor of making a Metro Unit where the Sheriff of El Paso County would be the sole and supreme Official of the County. I believe that the dual system of an appointed Police Chief and an Elected Sheriff provides El Paso with checks and balances of power, much like our three branches of the Federal government.
What are the specific legal and legislative steps it would take, and how far are you willing to go? I strongly believe that adding this responsibility to the County would not save any money. The Custom and Immigration consolidation of the Federal Government is an example of consolidation. Do the residents of El Paso County want to go through that?
What is the impact of drug violence in Juárez on the city of El Paso and surrounding communities? It impacts us drastically, not only criminally but economically. I believe it needs to be address by a proactive community based plan and spearheaded by an aggressive gang and drug interdiction unit. The former managers of the El Paso Police Department failed to see that El Paso County has more than 500 gangs and over 3000 gang members. One initiative that I would implement would be for felonious Gang members would be required to register much the same way a sex offender registers with the state. The Sheriff could keep track of which neighborhood the Gang member moved to thus allowing for prevention before detention programs.
Richard D. Wiles
Age: 47
Website: www.WilesForEPCounty.com
Residence: Northeast
Occupation: Retired Chief of Police, Part-time professor at UTEP and Park University at Fort Bliss
Education: BS in Criminal Justice, UTEP; MS in Criminal Justice, Sul Ross State University; Graduate of FBI National Academy and National Executive Institute; Graduate of Texas Law Enforcement Management Institute
Relevant Experience: I have 26 years of experience with the El Paso Police Department at all ranks, the last four years as Chief of Police having retired in December of 2007. During my tenure, the staffing of the Police Department was over 1,100 officers and 350 civilian members serving a community of 650,000 citizens with a budget of $108 million.
The department is losing some of its long-time leadership. Do you view this as a positive or negative for the department? How much does that represent an opportunity to change the organization, and how much does it represent the loss of institutional memory? I consider it a negative due to the loss of institutional memory. However, having personal friendships with many high-level managers that have worked in the Sheriff’s Department, I will still have access to this knowledge.
Leadership changes result in organizational changes as new ideas are brought forth and implemented. These changes will be consistent with the strong ethical standards that were put in place by Sheriff Leo Samaniego and the positive changes that were implemented during my tenure as Chief of Police.
Does the sheriff’s department need a civilian review board? What type of community outreach does the department have, and what would you change? No, the Sheriff is an elected official who is directly accountable to the citizens and as such, can be removed if the public loses trust and respect in the agency.
It is important that the Sheriff’s Department be transparent and work closely with the public in addressing public safety issues. I would ensure that existing community outreach programs, such as the Sheriff’s Advisory Board, be continued and expanded as well as implementing regular community meetings.
Describe your position on immigration enforcement. Local and County Law Enforcement Agencies do not have the resources, training or experience to enforce immigration laws. There is a great potential for increased liability, racial profiling and alienating members of the community when local authorities engage in enforcing laws that are the responsibility of the Federal government.
We are aware that a small minority of illegal immigrants are engaged in drug smuggling, human trafficking as well as other crimes. Unquestionably these are law enforcement issues that need to be addressed by local and county law enforcement. However, because we experience many of these crimes due to our location on the border, the federal and state governments should assist us with funding to take that burden off of local taxpayers.
If state law permitted it, would you favor or disfavor consolidation with the El Paso Police Department? What are the specific legal and legislative steps it would take, and how far are you willing to go? Property taxes being a major issue in El Paso, the Sheriff should look for each and every opportunity to be effective and efficient in the expenditure of tax monies. Consolidation of certain operations, i.e., communication, records, property office, training, etc., should begin immediately. Complete consolidation is a possibility in the future with support at the City and County levels as well as potential changes in state law.
What is the impact of drug violence in Juárez on the city of El Paso and surrounding communities? Drugs and drug violence impact El Paso County as well as communities across this nation on a daily basis. They impact the crime rate, the ability of citizens to enjoy the highest quality of life in their communities as well as the availability of social programs for our children and seniors.
This violence has already “spilled over” into El Paso to some degree and we must remain vigilant and continue to work together with all segments of law enforcement in our community in order to prevent the problem from getting worse.
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Voter Guide 11.2008 Online Resources
Races included in the Voter Guide 11.2008
State Representative District 75; Charlie Garza, Chente Quintanilla
State Representative District 78; Dee Margo, Joe Moody
8th Court of Appeals, Judge Place 3; Kenn Carr, Guadalupe “Lupe” Rivera
448th District Court; Christopher Antcliff, Regina Arditti
County Criminal District Court #1; Manuel Barraza, Don Minton
County Sheriff; George Stoltz, Richard Wiles
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Click here to visit the canidates’ websites.
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Click here for Early Voting locations. Early voting ends 10.31.2008.
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For more information:
Elections Department
Phone: 915.546.2154
Fax: 915 546-2220
www.epcounty.com
