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HAZE Temp: 48 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2002 Some call Winters’ endorsement list misleading By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Sheriff candidate Mike Winters claims to have the support of nearly every police department in the county. Related stories: � There'll be a new sheriff in town � Mayer: Career is 'far more than a job' � Winters: Aims to give 'good service' But his endorsement list is misleading, some police officers say. In addition to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Employees and the Oregon State Police Officers associations, Winters lists Officers of the Medford Police Department as supporters. But the endorsement comes only from individual officers, said Medford Deputy Police Chief Ron Norris. "The police department cannot and will not endorse. We are 100 percent apolitical," Norris said, citing state law and city policy. Medford police Detective Steve Edson, president of Medford’s officers association, submitted a letter last week to Mail Tribune editors to clarify the association’s position. Winters’ campaign signs, which include Medford officers among other supporters, prompted Edson to speak out. "That bothered me because the department can’t (endorse). The board of directors has just felt that it’s best to remain neutral," Edson said. Among Winters’ other supporters — according to his endorsement list — are officers of the Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Central Point and Eagle Point police departments. Letters submitted to Winters’ campaign staff reveal that in some cases, an official police organization did, in fact, endorse Winters while others did not. The officers associations of Talent and Phoenix police pitched their official support for Winters. However, individual members of the Ashland police officers association wrote a letter of support for Winters. Individual officers with Eagle Point Police Department also support Winters’ bid. The union representative for Central Point police could not be reached. Central Point’s police Chief Mike Sweeny said he didn’t know which of his officers had endorsed Winters. Sweeny contributed $50 to Winters’ campaign, according to records filed with the county clerk. Elmer Kammel, Talent police chief, also gave $50. As of Sept. 26, Winters had raised nearly $53,000 for his campaign, about half of which came out of his own pocket. Ed Mayer’s endorsement list features only individual supporters, not businesses or other organizations. Supporters include: Medford fire Chief Dave Bierwiler, Medford Deputy Police Chief Randy Schoen, Medford police Lts. Tim George and Mike Moran, Sheriff’s Lt. Dewey Patten and District Attorney Mark Huddleston. Mayer had raised just over $17,000, according to his campaign’s contributions and expenditures statement, filed on Sept. 25. Mayer contributed about $600 of his own money. His father, Reece Mayer, a Medford resident, contributed $2,000. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S