This column was contributed by the San Benito County Sheriff. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. Lea este articulo en español aqui.
Recently, a song about life in a small town, “This Town” by Kacey Musgraves, prompted me to reflect on the past year. It has been one of the most difficult years of my career in law enforcement—not because of the work or the people I serve alongside, but because of the tone of our local politics.
Disagreement is part of public life. Elected officials should expect questions, criticism, and vigorous debate. In fact, those things are essential to good government. But there is a difference between holding someone accountable and making things personal. Rumors, speculation, and personal attacks do little to move our community forward. They distract us from the issues that matter to San Benito County and set an unfortunate example for the young people who are watching us.
As an elected Sheriff, I recognize that I have a responsibility to model the same respect and professionalism that I ask of others, even when disagreements are difficult. I also recognize that people will not always agree with my decisions, and that is perfectly reasonable.
Over the years, I have made political endorsements based on my own judgment and experiences. Others are certainly free to disagree with those choices. However, my personal endorsements should never be interpreted as representing the views of every person who works in the Sheriff’s Office. Our employees serve this entire community, regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs.
While I stand by my right to express my personal views and make endorsements, I have also seen how those decisions can create unnecessary distractions for the Sheriff’s Office. For that reason, I have decided to refrain from making political endorsements moving forward. My priority is ensuring that our employees and the important work they do are never overshadowed by disagreements involving me personally.
In my experience, criticism directed toward the Sheriff’s Office became noticeably more personal following the last election. Regardless of the reasons, our employees should not become targets of political disagreements involving me. I remain accessible to the people I serve and welcome direct conversations about my decisions, but I will not participate in personal disputes or arguments on social media.
I also want to acknowledge the work taking place across county government. In my experience, County Administration has made a sincere effort to bring greater structure and accountability to its work. Recognizing those efforts does not mean I agree with every decision, nor does it mean there is no room for improvement. We face serious challenges, and reasonable people can have very different opinions about how best to address them. I simply encourage residents to look at the facts, ask questions, and hear from those involved before forming conclusions based on a social media post.
During my time as a Captain and now as Sheriff, I have had both agreements and disagreements with members of the Board of Supervisors. That is a normal and healthy part of government. We represent different responsibilities, perspectives, and constituencies. We should be able to disagree on an issue today and work together on another tomorrow. That is how government should function.
One example that has stayed with me is my working relationship with Ignacio Velasquez during his time on the Board of Supervisors. We did not always agree, but I appreciated his willingness to work with me on matters affecting the Sheriff’s Office. I remained neutral during the recall effort. Looking back, I wish I had done more to share my firsthand professional experience when the Sheriff’s Office became part of the public discussion. I believe people deserve to hear directly from those involved before forming conclusions.
The same principle applies to every elected official, regardless of whether I agree with their positions. If someone wants to know how a supervisor or another county leader has worked with my office, I am willing to discuss my experience honestly. That includes both the agreements and the disagreements. We accomplish more through honest conversations than through speculation about one another’s motives.
I do not expect everyone to agree with me, and I certainly do not expect our elected officials to agree with one another on every issue. Nor should they. Different perspectives are important, and respectful debate often leads to better decisions. But disagreement does not have to become disrespect, and criticism does not have to become personal.
We all have a responsibility for the tone of our community. That includes elected officials, community leaders, and residents alike. We can demand accountability without questioning someone’s character. We can challenge decisions without attacking the people who make them. And we can disagree strongly while still recognizing that most of us want what is best for the place we call home.
Our employees, our future leaders, and our children are watching how we handle disagreement. The example we set today will help shape the community they inherit tomorrow.
Hollister is a small community. We see one another at the grocery store, at school events, and around town. We are neighbors before we are political opponents, and we will still be neighbors long after the next election.
Let’s make this a community where people can disagree without being mean.
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