Political Philosophy for Michael S. "Mike" Carona

• MIKE CARONA FOR ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF
• Says No to Business as Usual

• MIKE CARONA'S 10 POINT PLAN

• 1. RESOLVE JAIL OVERCROWDING

• 2. NO 7,500 MAXIMUM SECURITY BED FACILITY AT MUSICK

• 3. TERM LIMITS

• 4. REDUCE OPERATIONAL COSTS

• 5. SEEK EXTERNAL AUDIT

• 6. RESOLVE CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMIT ISSUE

• 7. SEPARATE CORONER'S OFFICE

• 8. REDISTRIBUTION OF PROP 172 FUNDS

• 9. BUILD PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS & INCREASE COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• 10. INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY

MIKE CARONA FOR SHERIFF: These are aggressive goals and they should not be dismissed as political rhetoric. I, just like the Sheriff of Orange County, run a county-wide law enforcement agency, but that is where the parallel ends. In my eight years as Marshal I have reduced my operational costs by approximately $1.8 million. I have decreased overtime by 60%, significantly reduced the backlog in active arrest warrants, streamlined services, down-sized management staffing by 20% and, through attrition, reduced the number of employees and increased organizational efficiency without laying off a single person. I have encouraged outside audits of my department and implemented a number of cost-saving recommendations.

I have a vision for the Sheriff's Department, which includes accountability to the public, fiscal responsibility, and a tough stance on crime. My candidacy for this non-partisan position has already received widespread, bipartisan support. I have been endorsed by elected officials, law enforcement personnel, community leaders, business leaders and concerned citizens. Please refer to my extensive endorsement list for details.

I am running for Sheriff because I possess the demonstrated leadership abilities to deal with the issues facing this County and the Sheriff's Department. My vision is to work cooperatively with members of the county family, my colleagues in law enforcement, members of local government, community leaders and, most importantly, the citizens of Orange County to develop, and successfully employ, a strategic plan for aggressively addressing the myriad of crime problems that are impacting our County.

As the Marshal of Orange County, I lead the fourth largest law enforcement agency in the County, with over 440 employees and an annual budget in excess of $30 million. I have earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management, a Master of Arts degree in Management, and a separate Master of Science degree in Management, am a graduate of the FBI's LEEDS program and a graduate of California's prestigious Command College. My leadership/management skills have been utilized as Governor Wilson's appointee to the California Student Aid Commission with responsibilities for California's $350 million post-secondary educational grant funding and $17 billion student loan portfolio.

As the Marshal of Orange County I have worked with members of the State legislature on tough anti-crime bills. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials on a variety of successful joint operations. With a law enforcement career that encompasses 21 years of experience, including 8 years as the Marshal, I have the demonstrated qualifications to provide leadership as the Sheriff of this county.

My campaign will focus on a new vision for the Orange County Sheriff's Department and an end to "business as usual." Rather than focus on building political empires, I will concentrate on developing creative ideas to solve our County's criminal justice problems.

Over the last ten years more than 430,000 prisoners who should have remained in jail were released back into our communities. I will put an end to this potentially dangerous policy by developing both short- and long-term solutions to our County's long-standing jail overcrowding problem. My solution will not, however, include turning the Musick Honor Farm into a 7,500 bed maximum security facility. In fact, I oppose the construction of any new jail facility contiguous with an existing residential community.

As the Marshal, I have run my department in a fiscally conservative manner. As the Sheriff I would do the same. I will steadfastly oppose any tax increase as a means of augmenting my budget. I will effectively manage my resources by reducing operational costs and improving the Sheriff's organizational effectiveness thereby creating a more efficient budget.

As you can see, the issues in my campaign are simple and straightforward and will create a standard by which I will ask you, the voters of Orange County, to grade my performance as Sheriff.