Democrat Primary - Two Candidates - Vote for One
Glenn Millsaps, Democrat
Age: 38
How long have you lived in Pinal County? Five years
Occupation: Law Enforcement
How long? 17 years, which includes federal, state and local, in addition to advising community-based organizations on criminal justice policy.
Website: www.GlennMillsaps.com
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of science in criminal justice/law enforcement administration from Park University.
Post-graduate degree: Masters of business administration, specialization management, from American InterContinental University.
Additional education and/or certificates held: Peace Officer Standards and Training Certification; Operational Readiness Training, U.S. Marine Corps; Arizona Department of Corrections Training Academy; Arizona Department of Corrections, Staff Development Bureau, Completion of Staff Instructor Certification; Arizona Probation Officer Certification Academy; U.S. Marine Corps Institute; Leadership Studies; Weapons Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy, Glynco, Ga.; Marine Sergeants Education Course; Marine Corporal Education Course; Training Development; and Military Studies and Battle Skills
Are you a veteran of the U.S. military (branch): U.S. Marine Corps
Dates served: Two tours 1994-1996 and 1999-2002
Married: Yes; Five minor children
Spouse: Destiny Millsaps; Spouse’s occupation: Children’s counselor
Clubs, organizations, etc. to which you belong: American Veterans of Foreign Wars; Marine Corps League; American Civil Liberties Union; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and National Council of La Raza
No past elected or appointed offices held.
What is good about Pinal County and what would you change? The diversity of people make Pinal County good. I would change the problem of drug abuse and give children more activities that are positive.
Kevin Taylor, Democrat
Age: 54
How long have you lived in Pinal County? 13 years
Occupation: Owner of security and private investigations firm, Taylor Made Security.
How long? 13 years
Website: taylor4sheriff.com
Education: High school diploma, Lorain, Ohio
Additional education and/or certificates held: Police Academy Lorain Ohio, Years of security and investigative training, top security clearance from the Department of Energy, Q clearance with the Department of Energy
Married: Divorced; Three adult children
Clubs, organizations, etc. to which you belong: former Little League Coach, Boys and Girls Club Member
What is good about Pinal County and what would you change? There are many things great about Pinal County. What I like most is the gorgeous winters. Coming from Ohio where it snows, it’s nice to be able to wear shorts in the winter time. I also love the mountains in Pinal County and Northern Arizona. The Superstitions are breathtaking.
Finally, I love the cultural diversity in Pinal County and throughout Arizona.
If elected sheriff I will depoliticize the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. I understand that it is an elected position and as an elected sheriff, I am a politician. However, the current sheriff has taken politics to a whole new level. Instead of serving Pinal County, he is in the news lobbying for bigger things. I want to be the sheriff and nothing else. Ergo, I will make being in Pinal County and in touch with the communities my No. 1 priority.
Republican Primary - Four Candidates - Vote for One
Derek Arnson, Republican
Age: 47
How long have you lived in Pinal County? I have owned a home in Circle Cross Ranch and have rented homes in Oracle and in San Tan Valley for six years on and off.
Occupation: Former chief of police; current student at the U.S. Naval post-graduate school studying Homeland Security.
Website: www.derekforsheriff.com
Education: High school diploma, Camelback High School in Phoenix.
Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of science degree in 1991 with a major in criminal justice and a minor in Spanish from Northern Arizona University.
Post-graduate degree: In 2002 earned an M.Ed in education from Northern Arizona University.
Additional education and/or certificates held: Earned master of science degree in December 2012 from U.S. Navy post-graduate school; pilot/owner of aircraft, 1991 to present.
Are you a veteran of the U.S. military: No
Married: Yes, with 2 minor children.
Spouse’s name: LaNeece, Office manager
Clubs, organizations, etc., to which you belong: Current: Federal Bureau of Investigation Executive Leadership Association; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA); National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA); Boy Scouts of America; National Rifle Association (NRA); AZ Special Olympics; past state coordinator for the Arizona Department of Public Safety 2005- 2007, volunteer from 1992-present. Former: Member of International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP); East Valley Association of Chiefs of Police (EVCOP); Pinal County Law Enforcement Association (PCLEA); National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA); Indian Country Intelligence Network (ICIN);and Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (advisory board member) (ACTT).
Current and/or past elected or appointed officials held (please include dates served): President of Chandler Heights Citrus Irrigation District—nonprofit volunteer. 2007-2008
What is good about Pinal County and what would you change? Pinal County has a wonderful diverse population, from farmers and ranchers, to businessmen and women, to retired seniors, to young families. The geographical location is central to the business corridor of the State of Arizona which provides huge opportunities to each citizen if the opportunity is seized.
The public’s safety is paramount to achieving economical good fortune. When the sheriff grandstands about his understanding of the drug cartels, it creates fear. This fear is multiplied when families, business and industries get wind that Pinal County is overrun by the Mexican drug cartels. What does it mean to the economy of Pinal County when these entities decide to move into other less crime ridden communities? Although the cartels are real, there is a much more sound and effective way of combating them. I refer you to my narcotics and gang experience in law enforcement. I know how to put down gangs and lower crime!
Currently, the “modus operandi” in the office of sheriff is self-serving to one politician or to his followers. There is no accountability in terms of fiscal responsibility, professional standards, transparent internal investigations of employees, code of conduct, and others. The office of sheriff must always be a proponent of the people, not simply for those who contribute to his cause and his personal aspirations. The office of sheriff must be able to bridge all political, ethnic and social gaps, while honoring the badge he wears. This is done through collaboration with all people.
Quality lines of communication must exist. The sheriff must be able to work with the board of supervisors, even those who oppose his politics.
I will work with all people!
I will also keep my personal and public life in check so as to never breach the trust of the public in such an egregious manner as we have seen recently by Paul Babeu.
I will also keep our limited resources here in Pinal County.
I will form a Border Protection Unit to respond to the needs of our county. This group will be made from volunteers and sworn deputies. They will be charged with keeping drugs and human smugglers out of Pinal County. They will do so in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies so that the cost of doing so can be shared. This is an example of working smarter not harder. I will cut unnecessary administrative positions and replace them with sworn deputies and jail staff. The list goes on. Bottom line, I will restore honor, respect and dignity back to the office of sheriff. I will serve as sheriff and not seek a congressional term. Ever!
NOTICE: Sheriff Paul Babeu failed to submit a candidate profile for publication.
Tom Bearup, Republican
Age: 65
How long have you lived in Pinal County? Five months, but lived in county previously; also born and raised in Arizona.
Occupation: Retired. How long? Four years
Website: www.tombearup.com
Education: GED
Post-graduate degree: Honorary Doctorate
Subject: Ministry School: Yeshua Christian University and Theological Seminary
Additional education and/or certificates held: Received many certificates of training in law enforcement and real estate. Ordained to Pastoral Ministry; Honorary Doctorate of Ministry Degree, Yeshua Christian University and Theological Seminary; Graduate of GRI program of National Association of Realtors; Licensed Arizona Real Estate Broker; Graduate Presidential Advance School; Graduate Glendale Community College Police Academy (1986); Graduate Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy (1971); Honorable Discharge U.S. Army (1967); and Attended Arizona State University, University of Alaska, Kenai Peninsula Community College, Arizona College of the Bible and Yeshua Christian University and Theological Seminary.
Are you a veteran of the U.S. military (branch): Yes/U.S. Army.
Dates served: February 1964 through February 1967.
Married: Yes; Number of adult children: 9
Spouse’s name: Adele; Spouse’s occupation: Homemaker
Clubs, organizations, etc. to which you belong: Life member VFW, American Legion, Teen Challenge, Boys & Girls Club, Rotary International, Victory Outreach, orphanages, abused women’s shelters, maternity homes, Chamber of Commerce, NRA, various national organizations. Current and/or past elected or appointed officials held (please include dates served): Elected, city mayor, Soldotna, Alaska
What is good about Pinal County and what would you change? I love the area, since I was born and raised in the desert and have many relatives living in the mining towns of Pinal and Gila counties. The weather is great and the county is growing with diverse economic development throughout which will provide additional employment for those that choose to move to this part of the state. As the county grows there will be more demand of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to provide emergency services as well as search and rescue so it is extremely important that the sheriff is on top of the spending within the sheriff’s office. I am a firm believer in having checks and balances to ensure the transparency of the sheriff’s office involving financial and administrative concerns that affect the taxpayers of Pinal County. It is my opinion that we must have checks and balances in the County government as a whole. No one should have a blank checkbook, but it is also my opinion that law enforcement is mandated by the state Constitution. I believe that Pinal County has the opportunity of being an excellent place to live and work as it continues to grow with new families, retirees, new small businesses as well as other job producing ventures.
Jack McClaren, Republican
Age: 53
How long have you lived in Pinal County? 36 Years
Occupation: Self-employed security consultant. Stepped down in May 2012 from the County constable position under the Arizona resign-torun law. I have been a law enforcement officer for more than 19 years. I am retaining my active Arizona Police Officer Standards Training Certification by volunteering as a Florence Police reserve officer.
Website: www.mcclarenforsheriff.com
Education: GED
Additional education and/or certificates held: Graduate, Central Arizona Regional Training Academy at Central Arizona College — police officer; certified public manager, Arizona State University course graduate, 2003; Project CENTRL graduate, University of Arizona two-year leadership course, 2007; and FBI trained negotiator
Are you a veteran of the U.S. military (branch)? Yes, U.S. Army.
Dates served: 1977-1980; Honorable Discharge
Married: No; Number of adult children:3
Clubs, organizations, etc. to which you belong: Apache Junction Boys and Girls Club board vice president; Arizona Farm Bureau member; and Florence Police Department volunteer police officer.
Current and/or past elected or appointed officials held (please include dates served): Pinal County Constable, elected 2010, served 2011-2012, resigned to run for sheriff;Pinal County Sheriff’s commander, 2003-2005
What is good about Pinal County and what would you change? We are a rural county with significantly large bedroom communities. It has a distinctive mix of urban/rural lifestyle in the heartland of Arizona. We have a bit of everything that represents Arizona — the original five Cs — Cattle, Cotton, Climate, Copper and Citrus. We have growing educational institutions and a major presence of Native Americans and their communities. Pinal County residents love their life style, the scenic mountains and desert and are fiercely proud of their way of life.
We have been impacted by the mortgage meltdown. We are a pass-through point for narcotics and other bad people. We have budget limits and need to be careful with the taxpayer dollar. It is not law enforcement at any cost — it should be good law enforcement lead responsibly with the cost in mind. What I would change is the public safety environment that the current sheriff seems to want to make everyone think is dangerous when it is really about law enforcement basics.
I want to change our public safety system to make it more efficient. I will do this by improving morale and officer confidence in administration.
If the rank and file members are not motivated, the task in front of us is only harder to accomplish. The rules for department leaders will be the same as for the deputies.
I will improve school safety and deploy school resource officers to our schools, helping our local communities.
I look forward to working with great groups, like American Legion Baseball, Little League and other youth sports to craft alternatives for Pinal County kids. As someone who has many years of volunteer work on the Board of Directors of the Girls and Boys Clubs, combined with being a dad and granddad, I know there are many opportunities to not only keep kids safe but provide them great life lessons.
Finally, this county has an abundance of caring people who have shown their willingness over the years to help. I will work to expand the sheriff’s posse and reserves to get more involvement so we can reach out to help protect our businesses, our seniors and our neighborhoods. I will look to join with other first responder agencies throughout the county to simply deliver a better emergency response and preventative safety program.
We don’t have to change as much as we simply need to focus our great talents to continue our great quality of life. I am looking to do one job: be your sheriff. It is the only office I am seeking and unlike my opponent, I will be looking to book bad guys in the jail, not booking national TV time for a political career.
In Pinal County, I want the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to be our sheriff’s family helping your family.
NOTICE: One candidate, Ty Morgan, is entered in the Sheriff’s race unopposed as an Independent candidate. Therefore a candidate profile for the primary election is not necessary. A candidate profile for Ty Morgan will appear in the General Election edition of The News in October, 2012.
