April 13, 2002 - 10:00AM

CARL E. DUBOIS FOR ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF

First, I want to express a special thank you to those who have taken the time to join me this morning, especially my family, my friends and my supporters. It is only fitting that we start this journey in Village of Otisville and Town of Mt. Hope, and it is an honor for me to be standing here with all of you to make this very important announcement.

We’re going to make history.

I’m a Republican who believes in democracy.

I’m a Republican who believes that campaigns should be a healthy and vigorous exchange of ideas.

I’m a Republican who believes that the electorate is well served when candidates debate and offer competing visions for the office they seek.

I’m a Republican who believes primaries are good, that political competition enhances public understanding of government and generates greater participation in the political process.

I’m a Republican who also believes primaries are good for the Party, be that they produce stronger and battle tested candidates and bring new blood into our political system. George Pataki became a State Senator by challenging an incumbent in a Republican primary. Al D’Amato challenged an incumbent in a Republican primary and served 18 years in the U.S. Senate. Lou Heimbach became County Executive after winning a Republican primary.

There will be a convention battle for the formal endorsement of the Orange County Republican Party. But regardless of what happens to me at that Convention, let me assure you today that I am in this race to stay and that I intend to be the Republican Candidate for Orange County Sheriff.

My platform can be summarized into four words.

Integrity. Leadership. Accountability. Reform.

The Sheriff is the most important law enforcement position in County Government. The Sheriff oversees the jail, with a budget of 32 million and more than 300 employees. The Sheriff is endowed with housing and protecting the public from those who have broken the law. Millions are spent annually just to transport prisoners from jail to courtroom and back. The word Sheriff should be synonymous with integrity, a person who the public regards as a pinnacle of virtue, and above reproach, a person who has not, does not, and will not tolerate petty corruption, backdoor nepotism, undocumented overtime or the appointment of political pals to do a job that should be done by civil servants.

Integrity is not a position you take on an issue. It is not something to be polled or measured in a focus group. It is not badge you pin on your lapel when you appear in public. It is a philosophy. It is a deep-seated notion of right and wrong. It is an intolerance for those who would abuse the public trust, the taxpayers, and the rules for personal gain. You either have it or you don’t. Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ll make you this promise...you’ll never be ashamed to call me your Sheriff.

The Sheriff is one of the most important leadership positions in County Government. A good Sheriff is a Sheriff who is a good leader. It is a Sheriff who is willing to lead without being told he is supposed to. It is a Sheriff who keeps his deputies trained without being told he has to. It is a Sheriff who takes initiative and makes things happen before he is embarrassed into doing so. It is a Sheriff who will stand on his own two feet and defend his record absent threat of subpoena. It is a Sheriff who will work with the County Executive and County Legislature as partners to ensure accountability to the taxpayers of Orange County. It is a Sheriff who can handle constructive criticism without resorting to insult and invective. It is a Sheriff willing to put in a good days work for a good days pay.


I do not believe reform is a four letter word. Every so often there comes a time to embrace it. I do. I’ll not need the Attorney General to make me do it.

We will keep accurate reports. They will be filed on time.

We will have a place for employees and others to take their complaints without fear of retribution.

There will be no courtesy badges issues by the Sheriffs Department when I am your Sheriff. You can say they are history. I won’t tolerate them. They are lawsuits waiting to happen.

Prisoners will get the medical attention as required by law and then some.

We will have a professional staff and I will insist that all appointees meet or exceed the same standards we expect of our civil servants.

Deputies, Correction Officers, and all other employees will again be proud to wear their uniform, having the dark cloud of mistrust lifted from over the department.

I will not have employees raising campaign contributions on company time or bilking charitable foundations for personal gain.

We will have up to date training manuals. We will have department mandated training for recruits and veterans alike. Training will be required throughout the career of all Sheriff’s Office employees.

After September 11, 2001, we need a forward thinking Sheriff. I intend to coordinate with Public Safety agencies throughout Orange County and the State to participate in a workable plan in case of a terrorist act or natural disaster. In particular I want to develop an emergency response team who will be trained and ready to go if necessary.

The blames will end. The buck will stop at my desk. If there is a problem, I will fix it.

To be sure, there are things about this job I do not know, there are details of policy to learn, there is knowledge to be acquired through careful study, review, and conversations with those who do the everyday work of the department.

On my first day, I will be new to the job I seek, but I will not be new to the law, or law enforcement, public life, or the Republican party.

I spent 22 years of my life in police work, including some as an undercover narcotics investigator. You’ll not see a candidate more dedicated to keeping the minds and bodies of our citizens drug free.

I’ve been a town and village justice. You’ll not see a candidate with more respect for the rule of law.

I’ve been a successful candidate for public office who won his first election by one vote. You’ll not see a candidate who will work harder in this campaign than I.

I’ve been and I remain a Republican. I am that by choice and by conscience, for I am fundamentally conservative who believes a dollar saved is a dollar earned, that people who do the crime should do the time, and that public office is a sacred trust never to be compromised.

I do not take this challenge before me lightly, I understand the sacrifices to be made.


We’ve got work to do. A message to spread. A campaign to mount. Today the journey begins and I can’t promise an easy ride. I know there will be late nights. Stale coffee. Cold Pizza. Letters to stuff. Stamps to lick. Neighborhoods to walk. Phone calls to make. But it is these small inconveniences that history has so often been made, a conversation had, a mind changed, a vote earned, an election won, reforms made, good deeds done.

I am ready to go, I am ready to win this race, and I ask you to join me.
We’ve got a job to do. Let’s go get it done.

Thank you