We’re one week away from election day, and San Francisco has a contentious race for sheriff. All three candidates were on the KALW program City Visions last week. KALW’s Colin Peden put together this report from their discussion.
Ross Mirkarimi is the incumbent, and he’s led with a progressive vision – Harvard University recently honored the department for an innovative high school program run out of the county jail.
There’s also been significant controversy. In 2012, Mayor Ed Lee suspended Mirkarimi for official misconduct after the sheriff had an altercation with his wife. The next year, Lynn Spalding died in a stairwell at S.F. General Hospital under the department’s watch. This summer, Kate Steinle was allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant released by the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Mirkarimi is being challenged for office by two longtime department veterans. Vicki Hennessy was appointed interim sheriff while Mirkarimi was under the misconduct investigation. Private security company owner John Robinson was at the Sheriff’s Department from 1974 to 1994.
Click the audio player above to hear our report.
