Yesenia Sanchez declared victory Tuesday evening in the race for sheriff in Alameda County, in an apparent — and stunning — upset against her incumbent boss.
Sanchez, a commander with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office who oversees the Santa Rita Jail, led the race Tuesday evening 52.7% of the vote — a total that, if held, will allow her to forgo a runoff in November. The latest results show Sanchez trouncing four-term incumbent Sheriff Greg Ahern, who received just 31.5%, despite having never faced a challenger in any of his previous campaigns. Veteran San Francisco police officer JoAnn Walker is in third with 15.8% of the vote.
Sanchez said the results showed that Ahern had lost touch with constituents under his watch — leading to a backlash from voters looking for more accountability from law enforcement and better conditions at the county’s main jail in Dublin. There simply weren’t enough votes in the county’s eastern half — including the traditionally more conservative cities of Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore, which skewed heavily toward Ahern — to make up the difference, local politics experts said Tuesday.
“We knew going in that voters were concerned about crime,” Matthews added. “Voters also do not believe that the old, failed strategies of the past are the solution.” “We are now a representation of what our young women and what our young Latina women can achieve if we put our efforts forth,” Sanchez said.
The sheriff’s office is now seeking to implement a series of reforms outlined in a federal settlement reached earlier this year, including increasing staffing at the facility, creating a new unit for people with mental illness and improving oversight.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kaplan, Tam appear headed for runoff in Alameda County supervisor raceIt’s likely that Oakland Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan will face off in November against the second-place candidate so far, former Alameda City Councilmember Lena Tam.
Read more »
Proud Boys members under hate crime investigation after disrupting East Bay drag queen story eventLt. Kelly with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department says it is hard to determine at the patrol level to determine the 'fine line between what is free speech and constitutionally protected speech.'
Read more »
Burglary suspect shot by Mobile County deputy after ramming patrol carThe Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy shot a suspect in Grand Bay on Tuesday.
Read more »
7-year-old boy fatally shot while in his bed during drive-by shooting in east Harris County, HCSO saysAn investigation is underway after Harris County sheriff’s deputies said a 7-year-old boy was shot and killed during a drive-by shooting in east Harris County Sunday.
Read more »
Sheriff: Couple and their child tied up during home invasion in Monroe CountyMonroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright said a couple and their eight-year-old child were tied up in a home after two men kicked in their door around 2am Tuesday.
Read more »
Passaic County Sheriff's horse Mount Baron retires to sanctuary after 20 yearsThe Passaic County Sheriff announced the retirement of a 20-year veteran on Tuesday, their horse Mount Baron.
Read more »