11/02/8   Why I endorse Lowell Cannaday for Dallas County Sheriff.
Linus Spiller

After accepting an invitation from a neighbor, I had the opportunity to meet Dallas County Sheriff candidate Lowell Cannaday at a meet-n-greet event hosted at a home in another Northwest Dallas community. 

As Lowell Cannaday answered questions from attendees, which by the time I arrived was standing room only, I was immediately struck by this man?s presence, character, and most of all, his humility. 

Equally impressive was Cannady?s grasp of the enormous responsibilities of the Sheriff?s position, which has an annual budget of $95 million dollars and oversight of 1,600 personnel. 

As Cannaday discussed these responsibilities, never once did he view those responsibilities through the lenses of partisan politics, which he could have comfortably done as a Republican addressing a Republican audience, and which incumbent Democratic Sheriff Lupe Valdez does regularly when she references the legacy she received from Republican predecessors. 

I had an opportunity to view both candidates side-by-side at a Lunch-N-Learn Dialogue Series I host each semester for students at the college where I work as a co-curricular educator. This semester?s was entitled ?Student Townhall 2008? and provided candidates to share with students their education, employment and civic background, as well as their qualifications for the office they are seeking in a Q&A format. 

Sitting on this panel with Sheriff Valdez and two Democratic judicial candidates, Lowell Cannaday was completely at ease and confident when addressing an audience of about 50 students and some faculty about why voters should select him. I was totally impressed! 

Even though I have considered Lupe Valdez a political friend and supported her historic 2004 bid for the Sheriff?s position, Lowell Cannady has won my support in 2008 and will receive my vote along with some family members on Nov. 4. 

I am not alone in the outpouring of support for this incredible man who will bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the Sheriff?s Department. All of the major law enforcement organizations in Dallas County have endorsed Lowell Cannady, including the Latino Peace Officers Association, Asian Peace Officers Association of Dallas, and the progressive Dallas Fraternal Order of Police. 

These organizations and citizens like myself understand that among the primary job responsibilities of the Sheriff, including traffic enforcement, issuing warrants, and area patrol, the most pressing issue facing the Sheriff is the condition of our county jail system, which houses over 8,400 inmates, many who look like me. 

Sheriff Valdez has not provided the leadership necessary to receive a ?seal of approval? from the feds during jail inspections, choosing to rely more on partisan political protection in the form of Democratic County Commissioner John Wiley Price. A recent Dallas Morning News story credited Price with improving jail conditions, not Sheriff Valdez. When asked about this, Sheriff Valdez described the situation as one where she Price was ?performing in the role he needs to perform. Just because you're informed doesn't mean you're running my department.? 

Note to Sheriff Valdez: anytime a county commissioner holds weekly jail sanitation and maintenance meeting with your top-ranking officials and assigns various tasks to your commanders, that individual is running your department and a significant portion of the job you were elected to do. And I am certain there are a number of officials within the Sheriff?s department that these responsibilities could have been delegated to instead of a County Commissioner. 

So, I urge residents to enthusiastically support Lowell Cannady for Dallas County Sheriff with your vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4^th from 7am - 7pm, if you did not vote early. I especially encourage Democratic minority voters who are voting ?straight ticket? to cast your ballot for Lowell Cannaday when you verify your voting selections prior to submitting them if you are voting electronically. Just select Lowell Cannaday for Dallas County Sheriff and the rest of your selections will remain intact. If you have a paper ballot, which we usually have at my precinct, you will have to manually select each candidate. Just remember to vote for Lowell Cannaday: he?s definitely worth the added effort! 

Linus Spiller

linus@linusspiller.com