Kuntz launches campaign for sheriff

Former Calaveras County Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Kuntz formally launched his campaign for sheriff Tuesday at a rally in front of the county courthouse.

Standing before supporters on the patio’s dais, Kuntz pledged that as sheriff he would bring back the department’s community policing and resident deputy programs, emphasize rehabilitation at the new jail and work on relations with the region’s other emergency agencies.
 

A 24-year veteran of the department, Kuntz was laid off July 31 amid heavy budget cuts. He is frank about facing former boss and current Sheriff Dennis Downum, who has said he will run for his fifth term as sheriff in the 2010 election.

“He’s been there 16 years now and I figure it’s my turn. It’s time for change,” Kuntz, 57, said in an interview Wednesday.

“Do I think my job could have been saved? Yes. Am I running because I got laid off? No,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be sheriff.”

The office has been a dream of Kuntz’ since he was still doing patrols. But it wasn’t until about a year and a half ago he realized “you got to do it sometime,” and started canvassing for supporters.

By the turn of the year he began putting his campaign together, he said.

Kuntz said his wide range of experience in the Sheriff’s Department, including stints as jail commander and operations commander, give him insight into all the department’s operations.
  

“The only area of our Sheriff’s department I haven’t been assigned to is animal control, but I love our two dogs and our horse,” Kuntz joked dryly during his appearance.

  That experience includes three years doing community policing work in Valley Springs, where Kuntz has made his home since his father moved the family from the East Bay 40 years ago.

The first-hand encounter cemented his belief in community policing, which involves more time on the street and out of the squad car, increasing interaction with residents and merchants.

“It works very, very well if it’s done right,” he said.

More broadly, Kuntz said he wants the Sheriff’s Department to reflect the needs of its communities by soliciting the opinions of deputies and the community.

“I don’t want to be like the LAPD or San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department. I want to build a custom sheriff’s department to fit the needs of our county,” he said. “What Arnold needs... is a lot different from what they (need) in Valley Springs, or Copperopolis, or West Point.”

To that end, he said he would have town hall meetings on a possibly quarterly basis with communities in the county.

Kuntz supports the plans for a new jail, but said it “will fill up real quick... if they don’t put in some real rehabilitation programs.”

Not every inmate can be rehabilitated, said Kuntz, but the county needs to target programs at the new jail at first-time drug offenders and others who “want to change.” 

“The recidivism rate in our state is just crazy,” he said. “We’ve got to try something.”

Kuntz also said he would work on collaboration with the area’s fire departments, ambulance services, California Highway Patrol, the Angels Camp Police Department and other agencies.

Brian Chavez-Ochoa, Jenny Lind Fire Protection District chief and president of the Calaveras County Fire Chiefs Association, said improvement is needed.

Chavez-Ochoa joined former county Supervisor Lucy Thein and former Sheriff’s Department employee Gary Stevens in speaking in support of Kuntz at the Tuesday event.

“Right now, the relationship between law enforcement and the fire service in Calaveras County is nonexistent,” Chavez-Ochoa said. “With Gary, it will happen. Right now, with the current administration, it is not.”