<\/p>\n
Montezuma County Sheriff Dennis Spruell has not given up on his campaign to seek a second term in office.<\/p>\n
Despite losing the GOP nod to be placed on the ballot at last week\u2019s Republican General Assembly, Spruell said he would petition to be placed on the ballot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need over 800 registered Republican voters in less than 7 days,\u201d Spruell said on Monday. \u201cIt will be very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
The deadline for Spruell to gather enough signatures to petition onto the ballot is Monday, March 31.<\/p>\n
At the GOP assembly last week, challenger Steve Nowlin of Dolores was overwhelmingly endorsed as the Republican sheriff\u2019s candidate. Nowlin garnered 76 delegate votes, compared with Spruell\u2019s 36.<\/p>\n
Challenger Diane Fox received 32 delegate votes, but it\u2019s unclear whether she will continue her campaign. Attempts to reach her for comment were unsuccessful, and she didn\u2019t respond to a Cortez Journal candidate questionnaire by deadline.<\/p>\n
All three candidates were asked to respond to the questionnaire by noon on Wednesday, March 26.<\/p>\n
Fifteen questions were posed, including some submitted by readers from the newspaper\u2019s Facebook page, Facebook.com\/CortezJournal.<\/p>\n
Read Sheriff Dennis Spruell\u2019s responses here: http:\/\/bit.ly\/QliCKI<\/p>\n
Read challenger Steve Nowlin\u2019s responses here: http:\/\/bit.ly\/1pewDFL<\/p>\n
When asked to list three action items their administration would take to guarantee the people\u2019s right to know, Nowlin replied, in part, stating he would allow media access to public records during regular business hours, and meet with all media sources to develop easy two-way communications.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would encourage citizens and media representatives to ride along or spend time with deputies in all divisions, so that we can improve and develop good partnerships,\u201d Nowlin wrote.<\/p>\n
In response to the same question, Spruell said the sheriff\u2019s office must answer to the people. He said he took great pride in responding to every phone call and email from citizens during his first term in office. He also said his administration would be transparent through a social media site.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to provide legally requested items under Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act,\u201d Spruell said.<\/p>\n
(The Cortez Journal made several public records requests to the sheriff\u2019s office in January, ranging from performance evaluations of former deputies to daily access to jail logs for all felony arrests. All the requested public documents and requests were denied by Spruell\u2019s administration).<\/p>\n
Another question posed to the candidates was to describe the biggest mistake of their careers and the lessons learned. Nowlin said he formerly took the outcome of a criminal case too personally, and expressed his anger and displeasure in writing to prosecutors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI later realized how unprofessional and demeaning this act was,\u201d Nowlin said. \u201cI learned that everyone has their own definition of justice, and that I must learn to be the best that I can be in my profession in order to provide victims with the best opportunity for justice to be sought, understanding that I play just one part in our judicial system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spruell said his biggest mistake was his refusal to be a micro manager when taking command as sheriff. Instead, he said he trusted his command staff to take care of day-to-day operations without double-checking their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis lead to unscrupulous activity that I would never condone,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cI learned I do not have to be a micro manager, but I must verify and keep a hands-on approach to all activities within the office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sheriff candidates were also asked whether they believed there were a disproportionate number of minorities incarcerated at the jail, and what outreach efforts they would undertake to ease minority concerns.<\/p>\n
Nowlin said he didn\u2019t think there was a disparity, adding that laws prohibit racial profiling of any kind. He said the implementation of contact and arrest data reporting could be performed and made available for inspection.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny and all concerns or problems could be addressed by developing good working relationships with groups and entities,\u201d Nowlin said, \u201cand having regular or continued contact, along with providing annual training for deputies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spruell also dismissed the belief that there was a disproportionate number of minorities, adding that 47 percent of the jail\u2019s population in 2013 was white, compared with 42 percent who were Native American.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe currently work well with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe,\u201d Spruell said. \u201cOur officers are trained in cultural awareness. The sheriff\u2019s office works with tribal members to address problems that affect all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The questionnaires, including candidate\u2019s unedited replies in their entirety, are available for viewing at www.cortezjournal.com.<\/p>\n