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July 11, 2014 08:58 PM UTC

First Woman to Run for Sheriff of Mesa County.....What !?!

  • 34 Comments
  • by: Benita Phillips

2014 July 9 Media Blast

I am running for Mesa County Sheriff as a Write in and have been running since I announced my candidacy in public at the Cinco de Mayo Main Street fair on May 4, 2014.  Why did you not know about my candidacy?

I have been totally ignored by all Grand Valley media.  It is unheard of for a woman to run for the top “man’s” job.  It is unheard of for a Registered Nurse to have the audacity to run for Sheriff.  Being a woman and a Registered Nurse gives me the foundational knowledge to be Sheriff.  Being a “Write-In” candidate was a difficult choice but I wanted nothing to inhibit the essential reasons a woman and a Nurse should run, i.e. impartiality, objectivity and independence.

Of all the men that are still running, none have my years of public service.  None have my supervisory experience.  None have my budget control experience.  None have lived and worked in a war zone and prepared for casualties.  None have worked for better care for our local vets.  None understand life and death decisions and working with families as I have.  I have had a patient-centered career. I have had a community outreach career.  I have lived and worked in a multi-national and multi-cultural setting successfully.  I have worked almost a decade inside a US government agency, the Veterans Hospital and I understand this community and its needs for now and the future far better than any other candidate.

I was President of Mesa County Western Colorado Congress for over 2 years and unfortunately, one of only a handful of Republican members.  In that time I scrutinized, probed and prodded the present and future issues our county will be facing.  The cultural diversity of our county is an enormous strength and a bane if misunderstood or mishandled.  Trust is imperative.

King is under investigation.  Trust will be a problem for him.  There are three men “petitioning” on to the ballot, two of which chickened out on running until King was under investigation.  Trust and courage is a problem.  Only one petitioner started before the primary and is still collecting names.  One other “write-in” couldn’t find the Ute Water building for the Mesa County Sheriff Association forum that was pre-scheduled weeks in advance, now has a “Tea Party” endorsement.  He is not a long term planner by any stretch of the imagination and most of what he talked about at the forum when he did get there was his own lack of knowledge about how to run a Sheriff’s office and using dogs.

I have a vision for the Mesa County Sheriff’s position.  Without trustworthy, committed and sure-footed leadership, this county will suffer.  Leadership requires projecting planning into the future and trying to anticipate, as much as possible, unforeseen situations that could have an adverse effect on our community.

The Grand Valley is a unique area, in a geologically unique position between two of the Southwest’s biggest cities.  If those cities call for more power or more water, the Sheriff’s Office will bear the impact from ramifications that could occur.  An example to easily visualize is a blackout due to lack of electricity.  A community left in the dark is a vulnerable community.  Prevention is the key.  As in healthcare, prevention reduces costs and ensures stable longevity. 

Despite the media’s efforts, I have been and will continue to run a grassroots effort to be elected by Mesa County citizens.  I will put my efforts into achieving a long term plan to ensure a viable, safe and healthy community.  Who better to put your trust, then in a Registered Nurse?

A real choice for Sheriff, Write-In Benita Phillips for Sheriff.  If you want to help me please email me at ranchita3553@gmail.com.

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34 thoughts on “First Woman to Run for Sheriff of Mesa County…..What !?!”

  1. If I lived in Mesa County, I'd vote for you. It's true that you lack law-enforcement experience, but you have proven your abilities to master government systems, and law enforcement is just another system.

    My suggestion: Challenge opponents to a debate. Have citizens submit questions through social media. Send the questions to your opponents. Pick a time and place, invite media.

    When/if they don't show up, answer the questions yourself.

    If you can make the debate in an "earned media" setting which will make for good photo ops for media , ie. the setting of a scandal or a continuing problem people are anxious about, you may actually get some press.  Have your supporters call the media that is dismissive or ignoring you, and demand that they step up and cover the election debate. 

    For what it's worth, I wish you luck.

  2. Sorry, but the only way King will be beaten is if the four (or is it five?) unaffiliated candidates get together and unite behind one of them. Otherwise, the anti-King vote will split and the vote-R-no-matter-what crowd will carry King. A write-in has no chance.

  3. Sorry, Beniita but I'm not going to waste my vote.  As Gertie said above, get behind someone who CAN win.  Otherwise, you're likely to have 12 years of a dumbass grifter in the Sheriff's office who can't even testify credibly in court because of his Brady letter.

  4. Did we read the same diary? Anyone who could write such a grandiose, self-serving, petty, and vague (what war zone, exactly?) set of statements is the last person I'd want in charge of  very large group of cops. 

    How in the world does her gender give her "foundational knowledge" to be Sheriff? If a man had said that about himself, it would be just as ludicrous. I'm no fan of the Good Ol' Boy network, but I'm even less of a fan of someone completely unqualified running a law enforcement agency. It's dangerous.  

    Would Ms. Phillips, as a Registered Nurse, be comfortable with medical decisions from a Law Enforcement Officer?  Both jobs are very important, but they're not interchangable; and I'm not sure anyone would want to list working for the VA Hospital as evidence of their competence in mastering government systems.  

    There are any number of current/former female members of the Mesa County law enforcement community who would be much more qualified for the position (Lissah Norcross, I'm looking in your direction…..), but the person who wrote this diary is just one more write-in yahoo.

    Dammit, Steve….why'd you have to turn out the way you did?  

     

     

     

     

    1. A large ego is required for aspiring politicians, as well as a  for those who seek to influence others through writing.  Women are expected to keep those egos under wraps. Men are not.

      OK, gender does not give "foundational knowledge" for any career. However, being female unfortunately gives an insight into the underbelly of domestic violence prosecution, or the absence of same. Domestic violence is just as endemic in rural communities as it is in the big city – victims, who are most often female, are just more isolated, and the small-town dynamic is that everyone knows what's going on, but nobody will intervene – also because of that lovely good-ol-boy network, aided and abetted by religious fundamentalism.

      Obviously, this candidate does have that required ego, and the responses will also help her to develop the requisite thick skin.

       

      1. "A large ego is required for aspiring politicians, as well as a  for those who seek to influence others through writing.  Women are expected to keep those egos under wraps. Men are not. " So, bloviating like a man makes her a better candidate for Sheriff? I'm all for strong women being clear about their qualifications. But so far, we haven't really heard any. She's just as woefully unqualified as anyone else with her background. 

        "OK, gender does not give "foundational knowledge" for any career."  So we can agree that 50% of the basis of her "foundational knowledge" is BS. 

        "Obviously, this candidate does have that required ego, and the responses will also help her to develop the requisite thick skin."  I can't speak to her perspective on Domestic Violence (and I certainly won't argue the value of a female in that respect), but she's apparently got the victimhood angle down. 

    1. I don't think Benita is ignoring political reality in Mesa County…but she is challenging it. She isn't as naive as you may think.

      Benita is a friend of mine, so I have a bias, to be sure. But I can vouch for her intelligence and integrity. I have spoken with her at length about her candidacy and I think you are making a mistake to write her off so lightly.

      Can she win? A long shot, certainly, but if Benita Plillips is not the best choice for Mesa County sheriff, then tell me who is and for whom you are going to vote.

      1. I don't think she's naive. I just think she's unqualified. I don't believe someone has to have twenty years' experience in Law Enforcement to be qualified; but she needs more than vague terms that she thinks sound really smart to sway me. 

        From what I can gather (since she talks a lot about her qualifications, while she's circumspect on the details), her time in a "war zone" was as an RN for an Oil & Gas company, and she "prepared for casualties" but doesn't say if she actually treated any……do you know if is that's correct?  If she's already being coy and letting people assume things by omitting details, she's definitely unsuited for the position, in my book. Her flailing attacks on the other candidates in this very diary are an indication of a mind-set that you I wouldn't want to see in Mesa County's Sheriff.  Frankly, the title she chose for the diary is reason enough not to take her seriously.  I realize that I'm biased, thinking that Law Enforcement is not just "another governmental system" that can be run by anyone with a Bachelor's Degree or better.  In Law Enforcement, poor leadership means people's rights get trampled, officers start crossing boundaries, and people get killed. 

        As for who I'm going to vote for, I honestly haven't decided yet; at first blush, Patrick Arotin seems to have the relevant experience and education. I don't know anything about the "James Lange", that's been named, but if he's the same Jim Lange I knew who was in the MSCO, he might be suitable as well.  You know who I think would be great? Steve Farlow, the Detentions Captain. Decades of experience, and a very, very smart guy.  But he's too busy doing his job to campaign.    

        I'm sure Ms. Phillips is a fine person, and your admiration for her is warranted.  But I like Steve King as a person; and I know he's no longer the best option (even though he'll most likely win).  Unfortunately, his conduct (combined with the damn Tea Party lunatics) has blown the whole thing wide open for everyone who thinks…"Hmmmm….Sheriff…why, I'd be awesome at that job!". 

        1. The handwriting about King was on the wall back in late 2009/early 2010 when he was caught double-dipping from mileage/per diem and his campaign fund.  Unfortunately, he was too stupid to learn from the break the special legislative ethics commission cut him.  "No longer the best option" is putting it mildly.  He should get out of the race, period.

          2. I think that would be the honorable thing to do, but I think we both know he won't. His ego is too big, and the GOP Old Guard wants him there, for as long as he'll last. 

      2. Duke: I have not decided which of the candidates to vote for, except that it won't be Stevie. My point was, and is, that with the Republican candidate carrying such a built-in advantage the only chance for anybody else to win is if there is only one candidate facing the Republican. If there are several, they split the anti-King vote and Stevie wins in spite o himself. See Wright, Jared. If King is forced to withdraw, then the newly-appointed Republican will win. The others are wasting their time. Unfortunately, King requires employment. Who would take the plunge? The O&G industry? CMU?

          1. oops…sorry, Gertie..I was editing and hit the wrong key…anyway…

            My comment was going to be that the only outfit I know of that might take that plunge is the majority of Mesa county voters

  8. Bringin' the facts again….Mesa County has a female Sheriff- Rebecca Spiess.  She was appointed to fill in Stan Hilkey's term when he got tapped to lead the CBI.

    I don't know why she's not running – probably can't, as it's an appointment. But Spiess' tenure might make people more inclined to vote for a female Sheriff.

    The other thing about County Sheriffs across Colorado, is that they are not primarily police departments, but administer the jails, attend to public safety in a big-picture way, (emergency alerts, information on sex offenders, drones, prescription drug takeback, etc). This may explain why some of our Colorado County Sheriffs had so much free time to lobby and sue the state about the gun laws. Out of 15 duties listed on the COSC page, only two (the Fast Action Support Team, and the Marijuana Eradication Program) had anything to do with actual police work.

    Cities run the police departments and daily police work – Sheriffs run the jails, transport prisoners, and in Denver, Sheriffs place the infamous Denver Boot on delinquent cars. They are "back up", in most cases, where the regular police department needs their help, but it has to be requested by the City Police. That is what the FAST team does.

    So yes, Curmudgeon, "Sheriff" actually is primarily a job administering a system. Your dramatic statement that poor leadership means

    people's rights get trampled, officers start crossing boundaries, and people get killed. 

    is much more likely to happen with a city police force, where I would agree that actual law enforcement experience is critical.

    Colorado, like most states, has many examples of administrators being promoted or appointed to jobs not matching their career experience – Michael Bennet had NO classroom experience when he was appointed Superintendant of Denver Public Schools, and no elected experience when he was appointed as a Senator. He was primarily a financial-services dealmaker, and IMHO, his interests still align with that.

    I don't want to hijack this thread, so that's enough about Bennet.

    I don't really have a dog in this fight, not calling any individuals involved "dogs".

    I've learned some things about Sheriffs I didn't know, by investigating the multiple Sheriff scandals. I agree that the Sheriff job would be best done by someone with law enforcement experience, as it will occasionally be called for via FAST team backup of regular police. This would happen if there were, God forbid, a county-wide criminal emergency such as a terrorist attack, mass shooter, serial killer, or environmental disaster (such as the recent mudslide).

    Someone who has made quick life and death decisions and triage in an emergency room, handled multiple incoming information sources, and coordinated service delivery would be an ideal candidate.

    However, as "Sheriff" is primarily an administrative position, I would look for someone with administrative experience, and moderate politics. I wouldn't want to elect another Constitutional posturer.

     

    1. Sorry, MJ55, this isn't Denver.

      The Mesa County Sheriff's Office acts as the primary law enforcement agency in the unincorporated areas of this county, which amounts to well over 70,000 people.  

      So, you might want to check your lil' knapsack before bringin' the facts again….you missed some.

       

      1. OK, I stand corrected on that score. Mesa County voters definitely want  law enforcement experience in a Sheriff.  You all still want someone thoughtful and moderate on the gun laws and enforcement of same -you don't want someone bought out by RMGO or the NRA.

        If someone is "open carrying" in a public venue, and people aggressively complain, who gets the ticket?

        If someone has a gun magazine which they transferred to a relative, and it fits the retroactive requirement, but they have no permit to carry it in their glove box, and potentially could be in a "road rage" incident,  does the second amendment trump public safety?

        I want to know how my Sheriff will make those judgment calls.  (My Pueblo County sheriff hedged about enforcing gun laws, by the way – I guess that makes him a moderate.)

        And yes, I would want someone with experience in the effects of domestic violence crime – someone at least empathetic to victims, who would not just say, "You guys need to patch things up, or we'll have to arrest you both and take your kids away."  Unfortunately, that's still a common law enforcement response to domestic violence, which is the most common law enforcement call, nationwide, including Mesa County.

        So I think it's legitimate to ask ALL of your Sheriff candidates where they stand on these issues, demand answers, and vote accordingly.

        1. Nobody gets the ticket.  Open carry is legal everywhere in Colorado except Denver I believe and is permitted anywhere except where specific property owners have prohibited it (see Target, Starbucks).

        2. Thank you, MJ.  Sorry if I was a bit butt-hurt; as a former member of that Law Enforcement community, I can tend to be hypersensitive about such things. I happen to agree with you completely about what this county needs. What the voters will choose, sadly, may be another matter entirely.

          As for experience/empathy with Domestic Violence, I don't see any mention of Ms. Phillips' experience with same, unless you're basing it solely on her gender (if so, that's a valid point); but as to her other qualifications, her statements are too broad and too vague for me.

    2. Speiss can run, MJ.  And she's a Republican.  She was actively recruited last year but declined.  I was told she wants to retire; wants no part of a 12-year job now that we have expanded term limits for the Sheriff. She will probably (have to) resign if King is elected.  The so-called "party-approved" replacement if King bails is someone who she can work with and who wants to keep her on, I'm told.

    3. administer the jails, attend to public safety in a big-picture way, (emergency alerts, information on sex offenders, drones, prescription drug takeback, etc)

      I finally have time to comment on this point ….

      One of the things I have discussed with Benita Phillips, the candidate, is a very short sighted look at community public safety. Completely left out of the discussion at our county level is the pressure and challenges that wil be faced by the people of the Grand Valley if/when the big, OMG, shit-hits-the-fan, public disaster renders our community isolated from the power/communication grid, say, or our food supply is disrupted…our all the above.

      Wouldn't it be in the best interests of our community if we developed distributed energy systems to make us energy independent. We are already working on developing sustainable local food production.

    4. administer the jails, attend to public safety in a big-picture way, (emergency alerts, information on sex offenders, drones, prescription drug takeback, etc)

      I finally have time to comment on this point ….

      One of the things I have discussed with Benita Phillips, the candidate, is a very short sighted look at community public safety. Completely left out of the discussion at our county level is the pressure and challenges that wil be faced by the people of the Grand Valley if/when the big, OMG, shit-hits-the-fan, public disaster renders our community isolated from the power/communication grid, say, or our food supply is disrupted…our all the above.

      Wouldn't it be in the best interests of our community if we developed distributed energy systems to make us energy independent. We are already working on developing sustainable local food production.

      1. Ooops…

        If our county commissioners and our business development community won't seriously consider these things and do what they can to prepare, maybe we should look to other elected officials to carry the debate. Emergency preparedness isn't just about how much ammo you have in stock….

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