October 29, 2002 Times Herald-Record Editorial

Orange County Sheriff endorsement

In Orange County: Carl DuBois

When Carl DuBois and John Whiffen debated before this newspaper's editorial board earlier this month, they were asked how responsible a sheriff is for what happens on his watch.

"Totally responsible," they answered in harmonic unison that would have made the Everly Brothers proud.

It was, in our view, the only right answer and, in fact, both men had already made it clear in previous public comments that their view of the sheriff's accountability differed markedly from that of the man who currently holds the title, Frank Bigger. That's a welcome change.

Bigger's relentless unwillingness to shoulder responsibility for a series of problems that occurred in his office led to a rare challenge by DuBois in the Republican Party primary, a race DuBois won by a surprisingly large margin.

The tough primary campaign against Bigger was good for DuBois, a former Middletown police lieutenant and current Mount Hope town justice. It sharpened his message and raised his energy level considerably. He may have started his campaign with an anti-Bigger message, but he has turned it into a pro-DuBois one.

Whiffen, a Democrat, was faced with the same challenge. He lost to Bigger four years ago in the sheriff's race and had launched his campaign this year with the same message as DuBois: Bigger has to go.

Well, Bigger's gone as of Jan. 1, and both remaining candidates promise to run an office that is more open and accountable and less influenced by politics. We believe them.

We also believe that DuBois has a firmer grasp of what needs to be done to restore the integrity of the office and lift the morale of its employees. He also seems to want the job more than Whiffen does.

The Town of Highlands police chief recently said he was running for the job as a prelude to eliminating it, a reference to a suggestion made by consultants that Orange County transfer operation of the county jail from the sheriff to an appointed corrections commissioner and/or appoint a public safety commissioner.

County Executive Edward Diana has supported transfer of jail duties away from the sheriff, as has this newspaper. But the sheriff, of course, has no power to change his own duties and the idea that someone would run for the job and, if he won, spend his time trying to get rid of it, is a little disconcerting, even if you agree with the goal.

The County Legislature, which does have the authority to officially propose such a change, has been cool to it. Perhaps recognizing the governmental awkwardness of his earlier position, Whiffen modified it. He now says he would have an open mind to studying the possibility of taking the jail away from the sheriff if it is economically feasible. Somehow we prefer his earlier view, if just for its decisiveness.

Beyond this, DuBois has offered a detailed plan for restructuring the office, for working with local police and other emergency services agencies, for upgrading training and for being a truly hands-on sheriff. He says he'd patrol the Heritage Trail himself.

Whiffen, who points to 24 years of experience as an administrator dealing with security in public and private positions, disagrees with DuBois on restructuring the office's chain of command. Whiffen says he'll wait until he's in office to see what needs changing.

Our sense is the office needs someone to come in and open the windows and shake things up right away. DuBois sounds like that man.